spiders are on steroids this year

[JackieWeaverHandforthCouncil]

Went to the loo and turned the light on to see the biggest spider I’ve ever seen in the wild in the U.K. sitting on the toilet sit lid. I yelped ‘Jesus Christ!’ and woke up DH who wasn’t amused.

He went in there to look and also admitted if was massive. He’s Australian for context so he knows a big spider when he sees one.

AIBU to think that with all the rain and tepid weather this year that this spider season is going to be the most horrific ever? I’ve closed all of the windows, am not taking any chances.

I’ve had loads of the skinny cellar spiders over the last few months, they eat the big house spiders but now that it’s massive spider season they’ve all fucked off!

Even they are scared it seems.

Haven't seen a huge one (yet!) but we've had 4 decent sized house spiders in the last couple of weeks, which is more than I've seen in the 6 years we've lived here.

One blocked me off in lounge other night. I woke dh up shouting as I couldn't get past it. It had run under radiator but then run to centre of room when I tried to get past. Never seen house spider so big. Dh couldn't catch it as too fast and it ran under a floorboard as we're doing renovations so have a hole in floor. Nice

Saw one in the garden last night. I'm sure it was rearranging the terracotta plant pots. 💪

Yep, there was a plate sized one in DDs room the other night (I’m only half joking 😑) 🕷

I have two cats who like to catch the spiders that enter this house. I'm relatively spider-free for that reason but yes, they do seem to be huge this year. I do have one particularly big one who keeps coming back in every time I transport him to the garden. I don't mind him actually, the kids have even named him!

Every year since I've had cats I've been very smug about not getting house spiders because my cats eat them all.

This year I've had three huge ones already.

So they're either so big that my cats are refusing to eat them or (and I suspect this is more the case) there are so many trying to come in that my four cats aren't making a dent in them.

Do they come in from outside then?

If I seal my doors and windows shut will I survive? I thought they were already in the house but only come out during September to mate?

My dd HEARD one walking across her pillow above her head (shudders). They do seem huge this year, it will make Halloween more authentic I suppose!

@Stickytreacle

My dd HEARD one walking across her pillow above her head (shudders). They do seem huge this year, it will make Halloween more authentic I suppose!

😱

I'm looking to buy a flamethrower if anyone knows a good distributor ...

Meh, they don’t bother me. I don’t love them but I name them and let them hang out in the corners of my bathroom. The big ones on walls/floors get escorted outside, no bother.

The gigantic ones appearing at this time of year are Tegenaria Gigantica (know your enemy lol). In some parts they have the nickname ‘Hertfordshire Horror’ as they are (anecdotally) 30% bigger.

They’re out and about looking for a spider shag. And I am utterly terrified of them!

If you have cellar spiders (round bodies & very long, spindly legs, usually in the corners of your ceilings) then keep them around as they prey on the big horrors. It’s like watching a lion attacking a lonely antelope.

I’m fine with most other spiders. Orbs, cellars, false widows, tarantulas (they’re like hamsters with lots of legs in my head, thus cute not frightening) but the gigantic horrors, well they can just f*ck right off!

I had one the size of my hand wandering through the living room the other day. Its body was about 2 inches off the ground because its legs were so long. Then I found a slightly smaller one with the biggest spider-fangs I've ever seen - they were almost as long as its legs!

@Stickytreacle

My dd HEARD one walking across her pillow above her head (shudders). They do seem huge this year, it will make Halloween more authentic I suppose!

Yes, the two I've ejected recently were big enough for me to hear their stompy feet on the cardboard.

I prepared the house last week to try and keep them out and thankfully we haven't had any other than those weird thin ones that hang around in the corners and don't move for weeks, since learning that they eat the big ones I've started leaving them alone.

My whole house smells like peppermint and white vinegar, slightly nauseating but if it keeps the huge one's away I'm happy.

That is one of the creepiest things isn’t it. You can actually hear them scuttling in the dead of night.

I woke up to one crawling on my bum, under my knickers. Instinct was to sit up so I had the biggest fucking half-dead spider fall out of my pants. I had a mini breakdown

Bloody loads of huge ones this year. I've put my lazyarse cat on performance review, no more dreamies till she gets her arse in gear!

I really regret opening this thread! I'm paranoid now and my hair keeps tickling my neck making me think something is on me

Oh this thread has made me shut my windows and I'm peri. I have 2 cats also, so they may need a refresher on their obligations to the house.

This might be a stupid question but why do they have to come inside to mate? As long as they are not to big I can manage the glass and card trick.

The biggest f'ing tarantula joined me the other night. It was bloody quick too. It was huge! Couldn't sit in the same place last night in case another came visiting

I have one in my bedroom, he or she is huge, this size of a toddlers hand. I'm OK with them being there tbh.
They are my new best friend.

I've kept a lot of exotic spiders (ones the size of dinner plates) but honestly I've rarely seen spiders as defensive and downright angry as the big fuckers you get here.

I'm scared if I put them out, they'll just kick my front door in and evict me