Arachnophobes are currently living their worst nightmare. It’s spider mating season, which means millions of eight-legged creatures are scurrying into Brit homes. Between September and October each year spiders leave their nests in search of somewhere dry to copulate. And unfortunately your house is the perfect place for creepy crawlies to cozy up. Whether you are a spider fan or not – they don’t make the best housemates. With over 650 different species in the UK, you might be wondering what you are up against. While most of these are harmless, they do all bite. But only 12 of the species found int he UK have enough venom to cause harm to a human. Here are 10 spiders you’re likely to find in homes, and which of them are venomous: Giant House spiders are common to see dashing across the floor in your home during the Autumn months. It is one of the fastest spiders, and can run up to half a metre per second. Its sheet-like cobwebs can be found in the dark corners of houses, garages, sheds and attics. They find a female in a nice dry place, and mate with them numerous times for a few weeks until they die. At this point they are eaten by the female. Measuring 120mm, the brown spider does possess a potent venom, but aren’t usually a threat to humans. Whereas Giant House Spiders have large bodies, Daddy long Legs spiders have small grey bodies and long, thin legs. They can vary in size, but the Pholcus phalangioides can potentially measure up to 45mm. One urban legend says that Daddy Long Legs spiders are deadly, and that their venom could kill a human if their fangs were long/strong enough to pierce the skin. But research has found the Daddy Long Legs venom is highly toxic to insets, but not humans. Daddy Long Legs venom will only deliver a brief mild burning sensation, if anything at all. The Lace Web spider can usually be found on outdoor walls and fencing, but when it starts to get wet and cold they retreat inside. They can usually be spotted by their brown colour with yellow markings on the abdomen, and usually measure around 20mm. Lace Web spiders produce a blueish coloured silk around entrances to holes and crevices. Be on your guard if you see these creepy crawlies, as they have been known to bite people. Bites are reportedly quite painful and can cause localised swelling, The Zebra jumping spider are known for their black and white markings, eight eyes and their jerky “stop, start” motion. They are quite small, with the females measuring from 5-9mm and males from 5-6mm. These critters enter houses through open doors and windows. But you don’t need to worry, because although they bite, their venom isn’t considered medially threatening. The False widow spider has a well-deserved reputation as Britain’s most dangerous and venomous spider. They grow to about 2cm, and can be spotted due to their dark brown colour and bulbous abdomen. False widows are nocturnal and will normally spend the day sleeping inside a crack or
10 spiders you're likely to find in UK homes and which are venomous – or deadly
Arachnophobes are currently living their worst nightmare. It’s spider mating season, which means millions of eight-legged creatures are scurrying into Brit homes. Between September and October each year spiders leave their nests in search of somewhere dry to copulate. And unfortunately your house is the perfect place for creepy crawlies to cozy up. Whether you are a spider fan or not – they don’t make the best housemates. With over 650 different species in the UK, you might be wondering what you are up against. While most of these are harmless, they do all bite. But only 12 of the species found int he UK have enough venom to cause harm to a human. Here are 10 spiders you’re likely to find in homes, and which of them are venomous: Giant House spiders are common to see dashing across the floor in your home during the Autumn months. It is one of the fastest spiders, and can run up to half a metre per second. Its sheet-like cobwebs can be found in the dark corners of houses, garages, sheds and attics. They find a female in a nice dry place, and mate with them numerous times for a few weeks until they die. At this point they are eaten by the female. Measuring 120mm, the brown spider does possess a potent venom, but aren’t usually a threat to humans. Whereas Giant House Spiders have large bodies, Daddy long Legs spiders have small grey bodies and long, thin legs. They can vary in size, but the Pholcus phalangioides can potentially measure up to 45mm. One urban legend says that Daddy Long Legs spiders are deadly, and that their venom could kill a human if their fangs were long/strong enough to pierce the skin. But research has found the Daddy Long Legs venom is highly toxic to insets, but not humans. Daddy Long Legs venom will only deliver a brief mild burning sensation, if anything at all. The Lace Web spider can usually be found on outdoor walls and fencing, but when it starts to get wet and cold they retreat inside. They can usually be spotted by their brown colour with yellow markings on the abdomen, and usually measure around 20mm. Lace Web spiders produce a blueish coloured silk around entrances to holes and crevices. Be on your guard if you see these creepy crawlies, as they have been known to bite people. Bites are reportedly quite painful and can cause localised swelling, The Zebra jumping spider are known for their black and white markings, eight eyes and their jerky “stop, start” motion. They are quite small, with the females measuring from 5-9mm and males from 5-6mm. These critters enter houses through open doors and windows. But you don’t need to worry, because although they bite, their venom isn’t considered medially threatening. The False widow spider has a well-deserved reputation as Britain’s most dangerous and venomous spider. They grow to about 2cm, and can be spotted due to their dark brown colour and bulbous abdomen. False widows are nocturnal and will normally spend the day sleeping inside a crack or
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