Autumn is spider season in the UK, and large house spiders are becoming more visible as males search for mates. Peppermint oil and other strong scents may help keep them out of your home, according to advice shared by pest control experts and an Instagram influencer.
Lancashire Wildlife Trust says: "It's spider season. But don't be scared! They do come in peace. Giant house spiders... show themselves more often during autumn - if you see one speeding across the carpet in front of you, it's likely an amorous male in hot pursuit of a mate."
Pest UK clarifies that "most of the spiders we see in our homes in autumn are house spiders. Being descendants of species from Africa and the Mediterranean they prefer to live indoors where it's warm." They add: "The average house is likely to have 40 spiders hidden away in cracks and crevices. In older houses there can be hundreds."
Why spiders appear more often in autumn
Adam Hart, professor of conservation ecology at the University of Gloucestershire, told Good Housekeeping: "Early September is peak time for people to notice large house spiders, but it isn't necessarily because there are suddenly more spiders or because our homes contain something particularly attractive to them."
He explained: "Many house spiders live in and around buildings throughout the year and remain relatively inconspicuous. At this time of year, mature males become much more active as they wander in search of females. That's when people suddenly start seeing those very large, long-legged spiders running across floors, particularly in the evening."
According to the Express, it's not that spiders are purposely entering properties; in reality, it's equally probable that they already reside there. Their heightened activity during mating season makes them more noticeable.
Do spiders bite?
Pest UK reassures: "They don't deliberately crawl into our mouths when we're asleep, they don't lay eggs in our bodies, and most of the spiders we get in the UK couldn't even bite us if they wanted to as their jaws don't open wide enough and their fangs aren't powerful enough to penetrate our skin."
However, the company cautions that one species that does bite humans is the noble false widow spider, now one of the most common urban spiders in the UK. They note: "They only bite when threatened and their bites are usually harmless as their venom is not particularly potent."
How to prevent spiders entering your home
Spiders are most attracted to places where flies frequent, such as food bins, and dark, undisturbed areas like garages, sheds, lofts, and cluttered parts of a house. Sealing gaps and cracks in walls, pipes, and window frames can make it harder for spiders to gain access. Keeping a clean and tidy house reduces dust, flies, and potential spider habitats.
Peppermint oil is a popular deterrent. Jil Hinds, posting as @thepinkjardin on Instagram (164,000 followers), says spiders "hate strong scents, especially peppermint oil." Her DIY spray recipe includes 120ml water, 120ml witch hazel, 20 drops peppermint essential oil, 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil, and 1/4 teaspoon clear liquid soap. She advises spraying in dark spots, behind sofas, under beds, window sills, corners, baseboards, doorways, and closets, and notes that pets may be sensitive to the strong scents.
Scientific research supports the use of fragrances: monoterpenoids in essential oils act as fumigants that repel spiders and other bugs, according to a 2010 study. Spiders smell and taste with their legs, so they may avoid crawling through aromatic oils. Other scents to try include lemon oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, tea tree oil, citronella oil, cinnamon, lemongrass, cedar wood, and citrus (lime, lemon, orange).
When is spider season?
In the UK, spider season typically runs from the end of August until mid-October or November. Professor Hart told the BBC: "Spider season varies a little from year to year, most likely because of the weather, but by the start of September it is usually well underway. The most common species we are seeing at the moment, and the ones that tend to make people jump the most, are a handful of species known as house spiders."
