Hairy, sex-crazed spiders are heading for your home

Autumn is upon us and so are armies of spiders invading people’s homes in search of a mate.

September marks the start of breeding season for these eight-legged creatures, so you might run into a few around the house in the coming weeks.

Spider season usually starts in the first two weeks of September and finishes by the first week of October.

You might already be sharing your home with female spiders who are typically shy and stay in their webs. However, in the autumn, males start venturing into homes on the prowl.

Females prefer breeding and nesting in cosy homes in the autumn because it saves them from having to build webs in cold, rainy gardens.

A pleasant location you might think, but unfortunately for some species, including the cellar spider, when they eventually find a female, they are likely to get eaten after they mate.

Tips to keep spiders away this autumn

Keep your windows and doors closed
Declutter you home to reduce hiding spaces for spiders
Trim trees and shrubs so they don’t touch the outside of your home
Spiders hate essential oils such as lavender and peppermint which can be used to keep them at bay
Basil plants are known to keep the eight-legged creatures away as they are sensitive to the herb
Spiders also hate citrus and vinegar so you can spray these on your windows