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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect HUGE spiders NOT to move into my house when the weather turns cold!

114 replies

DaphneMoon · 10/09/2008 12:26

.............here we go again, summer on it's way out, winter on it's way in and all the bloody huge, hairy spiders are marching their way to my house. I had one last night galloping its way across my carpet, which I could have almost predicted as DP away.

.......now have spider size of donkey trapped under glass mixing bowl in middle of lounge, which will stay there until DP gets home tonight!!

Then had to spend rest of evening with feet on coffee table in case it's big brother came looking for it!

OP posts:
hifi · 10/09/2008 12:35

apparently if you have a few bowls of Conkers in your rooms they should keep the spiders away. did it last year and it worked.

Original poster
DaphneMoon · 10/09/2008 12:37

Really!!!??? I must try that! Wanted to get one of those sonic things that you plug in, but have hamster and rabbits and it hurts their ears. Err how do the conkers work or are you joking

OP posts:
thequietone · 10/09/2008 12:37

hifi - are you joking? I too am being confronted with my worst fear on a daily basis. They are lurking everywhere. I shouted to DS1 to go to the loo the other day, and he shouted back "Mummy, there's a big spider in the toilet". Yeah of course, sweetheart. Wandered over and nearly vomited on the spot - huge hairy spider in the top of the bowl. I now check every time.

LargeHadronCollider · 10/09/2008 12:39

No - conkers give out some sort of gas that spiders don't like, apparently. On another similar thread, someone also recommended getting some citronella, couple of drops in a water spray, and spraying that around on walls and floors - they don't like that either, apparently.

hifi · 10/09/2008 12:40

small conkers are dropping as we speak.get out girls.

Original poster
DaphneMoon · 10/09/2008 12:44

I'm going conker picking this afternoon now! I can almost imagine them running off holding their little noses "Yuk she has the conkers out lads let's go next door instead" .

LOL Thequietone, OMG! I am going to have to check the toilets now before I use them!

OP posts:
cremolafoam · 10/09/2008 12:46

We had a few of those sticky pads for catching mice.Also have a problem with Humungous spiders- you know the ones with faces-.The sticky pads have caught them beautifully.

HuwEdwards · 10/09/2008 12:49

I hate the bleeders.

And yes, conkers do work but they need replacing as the chemical they emit which spiders find offensive does reduce over time.

thequietone · 10/09/2008 12:50

The worst moment was sitting here (in basement) lurking on MN. There's lots of wiring above the desk that's secured in pipework, with a 2 inch gap at one point. I was typing one day and a huge, and I mean the ones with faces, hair and legs so long they have knee joints, fell through the gap and landed on the desk right in front of me.

Bear in mind I was 8 months pregnant, I nearly went into labour there and then!

What am I doing? All this reminiscing is making me feel sick again...

Original poster
DaphneMoon · 10/09/2008 13:28

OMG! Yuck yuck..

Have just been down to check on hairy friend, he is still lurking under bowl, well I did put a heavy ornament on top too just in case it was a very strong specimen!

I thought it was dead this morning, but it has moved position. I will of course have to witness the release (from a good vantage point on the settee) because if DP does not kill it and it runs off he will just tell me that it is dead. I need to know it is dead!

I had to put a note on the bowl last night in case DS came downstairs and wondered why is that bowl in the middle of the floor, and lifted it up! Bless him he hates money spiders so this one would have mentally scarred him for life!

OP posts:
littlestrawberry · 10/09/2008 13:43

I quite like spiders. Used to be a bit scared of them but since having 2 boys kind of got interested in them and I don't want them to be scared of spiders so we look at them, watch where they go and so on...

We used to have a 'pet' spider who lived behind a picture in our dining room. Kids used to love watching him, see the webs he'd woven and stuff.

Only place I won't have them is the bedroom. But even then I'm happy to use the bowl and card method to get them outside again.

Is it only me that calls all spiders 'he'? Never had a girl spider

wahwah · 10/09/2008 13:43

YANBU. I hate them so much and I cannot understand why they are not put off by the waves of loathing I send out and still insist on trying to live with me.

By complete coincidence I bought some citronella oil (they are selling it cheap at Boots) yesterday and I shall now go out and collect conkers.

Apparently they don't like light coloured walls either, as they can't blend in. Obviously I have white walls everywhere and it isn't a style statement!

Original poster
DaphneMoon · 10/09/2008 13:48

Ah ha, right then I'm going to soak conkers in Citronella, see how they like that ha!

The spiders I get are too big to go up walls, they only run like the clappers across my carpets!!

OP posts:
RGPargy · 10/09/2008 13:50

I hate the bloody things too!!

We've had three already in about 2 weeks! The night before last i was sitting at the PC and DP was just milling about in the front room (or so i thought). He then asked to squeeze past me (the pc chair blocks the archway from the lounge to the dining room) and as i moved for him, i noticed him holding a cup upside down with a coaster underneath it. This is when i clicked that he had a spider in there! I dont know how i composed myself either, especially when he told me it was one with a face and knees and everything!!!

I'm going to send out a distress email to all my work colleagues, asking them for conkers!

masalachameleon · 10/09/2008 13:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
DaphneMoon · 10/09/2008 14:13

The problem is some people are soooooooo cruel, and can tease you with them. I always try and remain calm in front of such like people as they have a habit of chucking the hairy monsters at you if you look the least bit frightened. I have quite literally had sleepless nights when I have not been able to kill remove one from my bedroom and lost it!

OP posts:
2beornot2be · 10/09/2008 14:43

I had to hoover the biggest Spider up it was just happily sitting on my bedroom wall the other day me and my Sister who was staying with me were arguing about who was going to hoover it up I think the spider knew what was coming and ran down the wall to the carpet so I ended up sucking it up and freaking out :-( I also have a mice problem not that they live in my flat but I see the odd one running around! Moving at the end of the month

Original poster
DaphneMoon · 10/09/2008 14:57

LOL 2beornot2be, sometimes the little buggers move just too fast for the hoover don't they, and some are too bloody big for the nozzle. I always leave my hoover on for a minute or so just in case it is in the pipe and is trying to crawl back up! Also ensures spider has whipped round and round in the dust bin and is either dead, concussed or has a very bad headache!

OP posts:
ethanchristopher · 10/09/2008 18:55

spiders are bloody wankers

and also if you kill one or chuck one out you have to find the other cause they live in pairs

personally i kill the buggers on the basis that if they feel it necessary to barge into my house they have the decencey not to return as soon as the door is opened again

urgh

lauraloola · 10/09/2008 19:19

I hate 8 leggeds! I thought they stayed away now its colder or am I just thick?!

I really dont want dd being scared of them like me!

I actually stopped using her moses basket early as there was one on it that dp lost. He gets mad with me as he doesnt understand my fear.

I am going to be checking my toilet each visit now - By the way - I flushed one down the bath drain the other day (it was on my shower wall) I had a bath and 20 mins later it was back on the wall. Be warned they can stay alive in water.

RGPargy · 11/09/2008 13:00

LOL @ ethanchristopher! I think i will just HAVE to call all visiting spiders wankers from now on. Has a certain ring to it doesn't it. "EEEEEEK!!! THERE'S A WANKER ON THE CARPET!!!" hahahaha!!

Laura - When it gets colder, spiders wankers seek the warmth of the house and that's why they come in. Plus September is prime spider wanker season.

It's really hard not to pass on a phobia to DC. As much as i REALLY hate spiders wankers, i detest wasps more and it's really difficult for me not to flap a bit if i hear something buzzing at my ears, especially if it turns out just to be a bloomin' fly!!

Notalone · 11/09/2008 13:05
  • do they really live in pairs? Please tell me that is not true?
RGPargy · 11/09/2008 13:06

I hope not, although two bloody great ones have recently legged it out from under the sofa!!

LindenAvery · 11/09/2008 13:12

September is house spider month as all the males leave their webs looking for females to mate with. SO spare a thought for all those poor spiders who are desperate for a shag only to be eaten when they have done their bit!

Notalone · 11/09/2008 13:17

. So what is the gestational period for a spider then? I always thought Sept was the worst month then after the first really cold spell they are gone until next summer. If they are all getting up the duff now, what happens to the babies??!