Everyone seems to be panicking about spiders at the moment!
Headlines in Irish media have been sensationalising spider stories for weeks now.
Headlines like, “Creepy or What? Ireland is in the Middle of a Giant Spider Invasion,” from Her.ie, and this from the Irish Mirror Online, “Giant spiders set to invade homes this autumn, warn experts” have struck fear in the hearts of Irish arachnophobes.
But we’re wondering what all the fuss is about! Every single autumn we see an influx in spiders indoors as the males come inside to mate, so we want you to know that you don’t need to panic, it’s normal.
This year we certainly have been getting a lot more calls and enquiries about spiders over any other but we have been telling everyone the same thing, it’s really not unusual to have a large amount of spiders indoors at this time of year.
If we are seeing a few more spiders than usual this year it is more than likely just due to the lovely mild weather that we have been blessed with over the last few weeks/months.
Generally flies and other insects will thrive in the fine weather and when there are more flies and insects around there will always be more visible predators like spiders around to feed on them.
However, we don’t have hard evidence to say that spiders are getting bigger this year because it’s not something we monitor very often. It might just be the case that they have been feeding more this year or maybe just that people are noticing them more now that everyone is talking about them.
Thankfully, most spiders found in Ireland are not considered dangerous and they rarely bite. Spider bites in Ireland often have little effect on most people, while a few species can cause an exceptional reaction due to their venom. If you are unfortunate enough to experience a spider bite that you are worried about you should consult a medical professional.
Preventing Spiders:
If having some extra eight-legged house guests is a major concern for you at home, there are some simple ways to help get rid of them.
The key to reducing the amount of spiders indoors is actually just good housekeeping. Vacuum and sweep away cobwebs regularly and empty vacuum bags or dustpans outdoors and a little away from the house where possible.
Spiders feed on other insects and prey on ants, flies, woodlice and other spiders, so where there is a plentiful supply of other insects, spiders will wait to find their next meal so make sure you also watch out for signs of these insects.
Proofing your home can also have a positive effect on reducing the number of spiders you find indoors – ensure that you fill up gaps in floors, walls and under doors etc.
Treatment for infestation:
Rentokil offer expert identification of your invading spider species and provide a professional service to control larger infestations so if you do have a problem don’t hesitate to give us a call!
1890 666 444
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