Why you may spot more spiders at your home in Autumn and how to deal with them

There might be more spiders in your home than you’d expect

Giant spiders, reaching sizes of up to 14 centimetres, will become more and more noticeable as the trees start losing their green hues. 

Ireland’s largest spider, commonly known as the Cardinal Spider, are frequently spotted on walls and ceilings of Irish households. 

The biggest reason why spiders, giant and small alike, are more commonly sighted in latter end of the year, is simply due to their natural mating season. 

Mating season begins early in September and ends around halfway through October, with males sneaking out of their hiding spots to, quite simply, look for a mate.

Now, you may wonder why these creatures expect to find a mate in your home, and the answer is straight forward. 

The average Irish household is likely to have around 40 spiders hidden in cracks and crevices, a number that can grow to the hundreds in older houses.

Most species of spiders in Ireland harmless, and with quite useful traits too.

Spiders weave webs that catch unnoticed bugs and pests, a natural pesticide within your home. 

Despite the harmfulness of spiders in the Republic, including the Cardinal Spider, their bites can cause itchiness and “mild discomfort”.

The best way to deal with spiders would be to let them be and feast on flies and other insects.

However, if you find it difficult to share your home with a smaller roommate, you can easily get rid of them with the well known glass and paper method. 

Simply open a window, trap said spider in a drinking glass or other clear container to keep and eye on the creature, and slowly slide a piece of paper as to not harm it. 

After setting the spider outside, you can expect to repeat the process over the course of September through October.