The spiders have moved in

Find out how you can learn to live with them, dust away their cobwebs and deal with any spider fears you have, so we can live together in harmony.

How to live in harmony with spiders

1. Try to keep them at bay. As soon as you see a web, vacuum it away and hope that the spider looks for somewhere else to live.
2. If you spot one in the bath, don't scream or turn on the hot tap; find a jam jar to capture it with and take it out into the garden away from the house.
3. If you suffer from arachnophobia (fear of spiders), get someone else to remove any unwanted predators and in severe circumstances obtain medical advice.
4. Accept that the house spider is harmless to humans and will keep nasty flies and pests away from your home and garden.
5. Spiders are part of nature's rich, wonderful and wild world and are amazing creatures. Appreciate them for what they are and the part they play in the environment.

House spider facts

1. There are five UK species of common house spider, ranging from 10mm to 20mm in body only length.
2. The smallest house spider is reliant on the corner of your room or behind your furniture to build its home. However, it is also found inside hollow trees.
3. The largest of the five species is the common night prowler with hairy legs that will wait for you in the bath.
4. Spiders can survive for months without food. Especially in a nice warm brick home.
5. Female spiders can live for years, whereas males die after only a few weeks. Generally consumed by the female after mating.

Why spiders are useful

1. Spiders are natural pest controllers and great for protecting your garden.
2. Every year they eat more than the human weight of the population in insects, including ones that eat our crops.
3. Spider thread can be so strong that Africans have used it to make fishing nets.
4. Spider silk can be used to make fabric.
5. Perfect for scaring your younger siblings with if you're bold enough to handle them.