I have some questions about spiders

[youset]

Just had another beast show up. I think that's the fifth so far this season. So was wondering a few things .
Do they usually come in pairs? Seeing as they're looking for a mate.
Also, how do they know it's time to come out? Is there a certain thing, other than the weather, that makes them all appear?

Thank you to anyone who can answer this for me.

It's the weather +. I always think of coming back from a summer holiday to a garden full of webs in September.
I'm in Melbourne, where the same thing happens in early autumn.
It's about mating too.

Despite its horrible name, this website is helpful:

https://www.confirmakill.co.uk/why-are-there-so-many-spiders-in-autumn/#:~:text=However%2C%20it's%20a%20common%20misconception,searching%20for%20their%20winter%20partners.

Not sure how many spiders it took to make these webs.

I have some nets at my patio doors and they stop insects flying in. I noticed a cheeky false widow using one of the nets as a web to catch insects in 😂 it had quite a collection of crane flies caught up in it.

One GIANT one

Spiders are solitary, they do not come in pairs.

They are also spectacularly good at keeping fly populations in check, so don’t begrudge them room in your house.

Those are the silks from caterpillars. 😁
The caterpillars move in groups and spin the silks round them as they move cos it stops the birds from eating them. So gradually the bush gets covered in the stuff.
The butterfly whose caterpillar does it, is tiny, white with black spots and very unremarkable to look at. Some years there are loads and the hedges look like a Halloween party theme, other years not so many.

It's mating season, they are looking for a mate. I hate this time of year. Peppermint oil is at hand and bug spray.

What is this type of spider please. It looks huge.

Hormones I guess? They know it’s sexy time! They are solo beasties, you normally see males wandering around looking for females who are hiding in dark corners. I let them get on with it, although I do relocate them in they’re in my bedroom.

House spider

As illogical as this may be, I’d rather have the flies 😂

Without spiders, the world would be overrun with insects instead.

House spider

Spiders are amazing, though! I am on their side, flies are bastards.

I just feel like it’s an excessive amount of legs! But I do still agree about the flies, hate them too!

I am not a fan of spiders, but l can generally ignore the ones hanging on ceiling eating flies. Do not like the massive ones that run around my living room for no apparent reason.
Also why do the come inside to look for a mate, what's wrong with the garden? Are all the lady spiders hiding under my sofa??

I would rather have ten flies buzzing around. Or snakes. Anything except spiders.
One of the worst things about being a single parent is being responsible for getting rid of them without freaking out and passing my phobia onto the kids :)

It's moth caterpillars - small Eggar and Lackey moths both do it - maybe others too. I don't think there are any British butterflies that make communal webs like that.

I didn’t know that! Thank you so much. Just passed the shrub on a walk and thought it looked weird, assumed they were spider webs. Thanks for the explanation.

Interesting, so how do the house spiders know when the mating season is over?