Warning not to kill spiders coming into your house this September | UK | News


They have eight eyes, eight legs and are undeniably some of the creepiest and most unsettling looking creatures you can find in your home.

But everyone across the UK is being urged never to kill spiders this September for a stark reason.

There’s actually genuine science behind the fact many people hate spiders: evolution.

Over millions of years, a fear of arachnids like spiders has been coded into our DNA, back when many humans came into contact with genuinely dangerous, venomous spiders that could paralyse or even kill a human with a single bite. Having a fear of spiders was simply a good evolutionary survival skill.

Today, Britain’s spiders are harmless, with the common huntsman house spider or the yellow and brown garden spider being two of the most spotted varieties, and neither can hurt you – but for many that genetic fear remains.

Spider season has begun, with the time of year which sees huge amounts of spiders invading homes beginning at the end of August and continuing into September as the weather turns cooler.

But if you can get used to the idea, there’s actually a strong argument for keeping spiders alive in your house.

Dr Linda S. Raynor, assistant professor of entomology at Cornell University has put forward that spiders are among the most useful things in our houses and are ‘important’ predators in the food chain.

She said: “Spiders are beneficial inhabitants of any garden, ecosystem, or home because of their important contributions to biological control of pest insects. Spiders are considered to be the most important terrestrial predators, eating tons of pest insects or other small arthropods every year. 

“Spiders are generalist predators that are willing to eat almost any insect they can catch. They are abundant and found in most habitats. They only need to be left alone!”

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