Is there a Spiders nest in my home?

jarjar7 · #1 (**permalink**) 28-07-2009, 06:29 PM

Hi,
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can anyone help me here...I live in a 3rd floor (which is the top floor) flat in Essex and since we moved in, in January, we have seen spiders almost everyday. They come in all shapes and sizes and will just appear, in any room, as if from nowhere. Today my boyfriend said a big black one came crawling from under a cabinet and it was at least 3 inches in leg span terms. Does anyone have any ideas as to why we are getting them? In our hallway we have the loft hatch, could there be a nest up there and thats why we're getting them??? I'm am soooo arachnaphobic and what with this other one today, I'm at the end of my tether...HELP!

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 28-07-2009, 06:36 PM

Spiders dont live in nest's per say and are not very sociable with eachother. They only live in nests when very small. All buildings are home to spiders im afraid. Regular dusting and hoovering helps keep their numbers lower.

jarjar7 · #3 (**permalink**) 28-07-2009, 06:45 PM

Could there be any kind of infestation or anything? I just dont understand why there are so many...wherever I've lived before there have only been spiders from time to time, even when I lived in a house with a garden...

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 28-07-2009, 06:49 PM

No you dont get spider infestations, they are not sociable.

Geoff F · #5 (**permalink**) 28-07-2009, 06:51 PM

Don't worry, there is no such thing as a spider's nest. At least not in the way you mean; although some create a safe habitat for their young and guard them for the first week or so.

A loft space or any other dark and unused area is an ideal home for spiders and they will be happier there than in your home; although sometimes one may venture into your living area while searching for food, mates or just another area for them to set up their home.

They won't hurt you and will eat lots of household pests so I can only suggest that you try to gradually get used to them. Once you learn to identify and understand them you will find that they are actually rather fascinating creatures.

Don't start by trying to pick them up and talk to them though. Just try to ignore them and live seperate lives as far as possible.

Action_Man · #6 (**permalink**) 28-07-2009, 06:53 PM

This is the time of year when male house spiders will be looking for females to mate with, so you will see them in greater numbers, they are there all year round, you just dont notice them.

You say there are lots of them, lots of spiders usually means there`s something that there preying on, are there any other underlying problems ?, like beetles or fly`s ?.

And do you have the facility to take pictures oft he offending spiders ? ...

jarjar7 · #7 (**permalink**) 28-07-2009, 07:15 PM

The only thing I can think of is that they must be coming from the loft space but I obviously dont know.
I doubt very much that I'll be able to get used to them though!! Although to be honest, I am getting better with the smaller one's! I just find myself not being able to relax because I'm constantly scanning whichever room I'm in to see where the next one will crawl out from.
Do house spiders get as big as the one my partner seen today then? He said the only time he has seen a spider that big in this country was behind the glass in the zoo!!

Sorry, I would love to get THAT used to them that I'd take pictures but I'm usually out the room and letting my partner deal with them!
We do get a few flies but nothing major, only when we've had the windows open in the warm weather there will be one or two flying around.

Pippa · #8 (**permalink**) 28-07-2009, 07:29 PM

Hi J,i am real scared of spiders but would never kill one.I get T (hubby)to pop them in a glass and evict them.We moved 18 months ago and often find them in the bath.We have seen some real big spiders too, here and at work.Just evict them,please don't kill.

Spiders are supposed to be lucky, so hopefully you are in a great home.