Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why nobody seems concerned

27 replies

BittersweetMemories · 09/09/2020 22:24

About how spiders in the UK keep getting bigger?

I have quite severe arachnophobia, which seems to get worse the older I get.

Last year at around this time I saw the biggest spiders I had ever seen in the house and just this evening I have seen two of, genuinely the most ginormous spiders I have seen outside of a zoo.

Isn't anyone else concerned about how big they are getting?

OP posts:
TitianaTitsling · 09/09/2020 22:28

It's the weather hot and damp, perfect breeding /growing weather for them! Not helpful sorry. I will say I had emdr for significant arachnophobia as in would pass out if one near me, I don't like them still, but l can remain in the room!

1Morewineplease · 09/09/2020 22:31

Haven't seen one of late but I opened my washing machine a few days ago and saw a dead one in the rubber seal. The body was enormous and I couldn't even remove it , even though I knew it was dead, because it might have suddenly sprung back to life! 🙄

WinWinnieTheWay · 09/09/2020 22:34

Yes, I am concerned as I loathe them. They have gone from saucer to side plate span in the last few years. They are sneaky little bastards too.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 09/09/2020 22:34

They seem the same as usual
That said a HUGE one crawled over my bed this summer
I had to sleep on sofa
It’s your arachnophobia OP
Sorry love

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 09/09/2020 22:37

I think they come out this time of year to try and find a girlfriend to set up home with Wink

Not in my house - they go up the hoover cos I can’t stand the webs

Original poster
BittersweetMemories · 09/09/2020 22:44

I never see any webs in the house!

My main concern is that at this rate within 5 years they will be tarantula size.

The one I saw today was my absolute limit before passing out I think.

OP posts:
katy1213 · 09/09/2020 22:47

You can hear their footsteps!

rosiejaune · 09/09/2020 23:14

Climate change. So if you are concerned (though spider size is of course not the reason you should act), do something about it.

BoggledBudgie · 09/09/2020 23:15

Where the heck do you live in the U.K. that you get saucer and side plate sized spiders?!? Need to know so I can avoid at all costs... ones round here aren’t bigger than the palm of your hand if you’re including legs (and even then I get the neighbour to remove them Grin )

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 09/09/2020 23:17

No, because they still won't hurt you. Even if they do reach tarantula size (which they wont) they won't harm you.

SummerBaby2020 · 09/09/2020 23:21

I have one in my garage who I should be charging bloody rent too it’s that freekin big!!

Was also feeding my DD her last feed before bed the other night and out the corner of my eye, seen this huge bloody thing run across my floor behind my tv. OH hates them too so had to put the big grownup pants on and get it...with the hoover but it was that big it got stuck half way up the nozzle! This was followed by lots of jumping about, shouting, effing and jeffing and my dd well and truly awake at 11pm laughing at me and her dad. I left the hoover outside in my back porch...it’s still there and I’ve been using my old rubbish hoover ever since ha ha!! 🤣

I did read that peppermint oil works so have some here that I’m going to spray around all the doors and windows I’ll let you know how we get on.

pinkcheesecake · 09/09/2020 23:24

I moved houses just because of this as I was getting these huge Tarantula sized spiders in my home. We did have ivy in the exterior of the house which is where they came from. I've now moved to a top floor apartment and no more spiders 🤞love outdoors but don't want any green or any trees next to me.

Splendidseptember · 09/09/2020 23:26

Op I am concerned.

I'm also concerned about false widows and how prolific they are. They establish colonies very quickly. Yet even though they are non native, like grey squirrels, they are revered.
I don't know a single person who has been bitten who hasn't ended up with a huge hole on anti biotic.

orangenasturtium · 09/09/2020 23:27

LOL I share your hatred and fear! As a scientist, I suspect you are seeing species that you haven't seen before. There are 650 secies of spiders in the UK.

Now is the time that giant house spiders appear looking for mates so you are more likely to see them in autumn. I managed to go 40 years without seeing one in my own home -now I am plagued with them in my current house so it is probably luck. You didn't see big spiders because there weren't any in your home, now you have them so you keep seeing lots of huge spiders. Unless of course it is something to do with the birds having their batteries changed during the fake pandemic so they didn't eat them this year Grin

magicstar1 · 09/09/2020 23:28

The crane flies are enormous this year too. They totally freak me out and I’ve had to catch three this week, and was attacked by two more today. Yuk yuk yuk.

wheresmybed · 09/09/2020 23:29

You can hear their footsteps!

GrinGrinGrin

WizardOfAus · 09/09/2020 23:39

The only solution is to leave the U.K. and move to Australia.

Picklypickles · 10/09/2020 00:16

I spend a great deal of my life being concerned about spiders. I keep thinking I can see them out of the corner of my eye but I'm usually imagining them. When I go to sleep I have night terrors that they are in my room/bed and wake up in a panic. I absolutely hate this time of year, we've had some huge ones in the house in the last couple of weeks and my 8yr old is as terrified as I am by them.

squeekums · 10/09/2020 00:48

@WizardOfAus

The only solution is to leave the U.K. and move to Australia.
Yep Grin Our spiders are so tiny and friendly.......

Dont google spiders in Aus OP

ButterflyRuns · 10/09/2020 00:51

I have arachnophobia too so could be me but they do seem to get worse!

Oliversmumsarmy · 10/09/2020 01:10

I can just about remove a spider with a glass and piece of thin cardboard

However I cannot go near a Spanish Cockroach.

blowyernose · 10/09/2020 04:17

I have bug repellent plug ins. Only one downstairs an one upstairs though rather than in every room. Not certain they work though as still see the odd spider but I think less than usual. The next couple of months will be telling! Might be worth considering getting some plug in repellent?
Xxx

ChasingRainbows19 · 10/09/2020 06:23

I remember being a teen and seeing a spider at my grandmas my auntie removed it. It was massive like hand sized (adult) is never seen one that big. So big house spiders have existed. I’m now in my forties.

Fatted · 10/09/2020 06:31

I honestly just put it down to living in an old terrace house with a field at the back for the last decade.

I'm curious to see how it goes this year. First autumn in my new build house. Although, we have had every single window open practically every day since April, so I wouldn't be surprised if lots of them have snuck in.

BastardBiscuits · 10/09/2020 07:14

When I was a baby there was apparently a massive house spider near my cot so my mums friend sprayed it with hairspray ... it didn’t die so she picked it up in her hand and it bit her! She ended up in hospital on IV antibiotics as the bite turned very very nasty ... so they’re not all “harmless”