'Spider season' has arrived early with 150 million invading people's homes due to heatwave
Yes, ‘spider season’ is a thing and this year it’s come earlier.
Hot weather followed by heavy downpours has apparently sent spiders wild and millions of the arachnids are heading into our homes to mate.
Giant house spiders are appearing everywhere from people’s bathrooms to bedrooms, sparking a social media storm about the early ‘spider season’.
Arachnophobes voiced their displeasure at the invasion across Twitter, sharing pictures of the beasts and pleas for help in getting them out of their homes.
‘Spider season’ is usually thought to happen in the autumn but many people put the early arrival down to the weather.
Spider season is HERE #spiderseason #spiders #hairybastards pic.twitter.com/ZmURNC0tRJ
— Anna Sweeney (@annasweeney_) August 12, 2018
Dear lord almighty, never seen such a big spider in my life on the window sill and Dave’s out 😱😱😱 thank god for Dad’s!! #help #spiderseason
— Emma McNaughton (@Emma_McNaughton) August 10, 2018
It came early this year 🙈 they can’t handle the heat or the cold! We’re screwed! #spiderseason
— Emma Park (@theparkypoo22) August 16, 2018
In April, research helped by thousands of recorded sightings from the public lifted the lid on when and where UK house spiders are most likely to be found indoors.
They found that spider sightings peak at around 7.30pm and spider season usually hits its peak at around mid-September.
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The research, which used data collected via a free mobile phone app, found that more than 80% of sightings were of males, who tend to roam around searching for females while the latter stay in one place.
According to the research, females were more likely to be found on ceilings, doors and windows, with males frequently spotted on walls.
At the time, Professor Adam Hart, who led the team at the University of Gloucestershire, said: “Spiders are an incredibly important and fascinating group of animals but unfortunately for them they are also one of the least loved.
“If “spider season” isn’t your thing then at least our research shows that it only really lasts for a few weeks!”