Spiders looking for sex in your home 'stay out if you use 1 smell they can't stand'

Spiders looking for sex in your home 'stay out if you use 1 smell they can't stand' Spiders are more active in the autumn as they look for a mate - but peppermint oil and other scents may help keep them out of your home during spider season You might have spotted more spiders around your home recently. But there's no need for concern. There's an explanation for why you could be encountering more spiders than normal right now. "It's spider season," Lancashire Wildlife Trust points out. "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." What's more, as Pest UK clarifies, "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 continue: "The average house is likely to have 40 spiders hidden away in cracks and crevices. In older houses there can be hundreds." Why are there so many spiders at the moment? "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," Adam Hart, professor of conservation ecology at the University of Gloucestershire, explained to Good Housekeeping. "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." It's not that they're purposely entering your property, reports the Express — in reality, it's equally probable that they're already residing there. However, it's their heightened activity levels during mating season that makes them more noticeable at this time of year. Do spiders bite? Spiders do trigger fear and anxiety in certain people - and numerous myths surround the tiny creatures as well. "But, to put your mind at rest, 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," according to Pest UK. Nevertheless, the pest control company does caution that one species of spider which does bite humans is the noble false widow spider, which has become one of the most common urban spiders in the UK. Though 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 There are two primary locations in your property that spiders are most likely to be attracted to: - Places where flies frequent: Food bins might be the most obvious example. - Dark and undisturbed areas: Far from being out to get humans, spiders prefer places they can live relatively undisturbed — garages, sheds and lofts are obvious examples but cluttered areas of a house could be tempting for them too. And there are numerous methods you can employ to prevent spiders from entering. Sealing as many gaps and cracks as possible in areas such as walls, pipes or window frames can make it more difficult for spiders to gain access. If you maintain a clean and tidy house, there will be fewer opportunities for dust and dirt to build up, for flies to be drawn in and for spiders to locate food and places to inhabit. Another popular approach people attempt to keep spiders away from their homes is by using peppermint oil. Spiders are believed to detest the scent. Jil Hinds, posting as @thepinkjardin on Instagram, where she has 164,000 followers, said: "Keep the spiders out with a DIY natural spray. This spray is easy to make and will help keep spiders and most others bugs out of your home. The key is to be consistent in your spraying." Explaining that spiders "hate strong scents, especially peppermint oil", Jil said she uses the following formulation for a DIY spray to keep out spiders: - 120ml water - 120ml witch hazel - 20 drops peppermint essential oil - 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil - 1/4 teaspoon clear liquid soap She added: "There are several recipes out there. I urge you to do your own research to find what will work for you and your family. Spray in in dark spots, behind sofas, under beds, window sills, corners, baseboards, doorways, closets, anywhere needed. Choose the scent combo that best works for your life. Any of the aromatic combinations will make your home smell wonderful as well. The point is to know there are non-toxic options for pest control in our homes." She also cautioned that pets might equally be sensitive to the powerful scents. Scientific research exists regarding fragrances that deter spiders. One theory concerns the monoterpenoids present in nearly all essential oils. According to a 2010 study, monoterpernoids act as fumigants which repel spiders and other bugs. It's also been proposed that because spiders smell and taste using their legs, they may steer clear of crawling through aromatic oils. Besides peppermint oil, you could also try: - lemon oil - eucalyptus oil - lavender oil - tea tree oil - citronella oil - cinnamon - lemongrass - cedar wood - citrus (lime, lemon and orange). When is spider season? In the UK, spider season typically begins at the end of August and continues until mid-October or November. During this period we tend to encounter more spiders inside our homes. "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," Professor Hart told the BBC. "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."