Forum Topic

Arachnophobia

Has anyone noticed the increase in the number of spiders there are around at the moment?  Spinning webs that go across the pavement at head level, so that you walk into them, and across gate ways.  I just hope there are plenty of flies for them.

Nicola Howard ● 5104d23 Comments

Yes masses of garden spider and getting bigger by they day. Are they just feeding well or pregnantI know they are a gardeners friend but I hate the thought of them snaring the bees which have finally become active this wet year. So i knock the webs down when they are amongst flowers.

Bob Crossley ● 5104d

I wonder if the reason for a greater variety of species of spider over here now is due to the increase in food and goods imported for foreign climes? The little blighters hide in with the fruit and veg and then make their way to wherever they can find a home. The fact that we have a slightly warmer climate here in blighty now would also contribute to them thriving.

Keith Iddon ● 5104d

Are they preggers?  Have a look for what looks like a cotton wool ball.  When they hatch, it thins out to what looks like cobwebs, or a collapsed web, then you can see the little tots.  Fascinating to watch.

Nicola Howard ● 5104d

Was this spider cocoon used as the blue print for the silly Acton pots?????

Nicola Howard ● 5104d

My poor daughter will be pleased - she is petrified of spiders - truly arachnophobic. I am collecting conkers to line the access to her front door but I don't think they really help - but, then again, we don't want to put the theory to the test in case there are hundreds more.  Are there any paints on the market that would make it impossible for spiders to scale? We have had a problem with our cat and fleas this summer.  We have used frontline spot-on for the past few months, sprayed his bedding and surrounds and still he scratches.  I comb him most days and can always find a flea or two.  Asda pharmacy sold out of Frontline housespray and said their sales of flea products had increased this year.

Maria Pettit ● 5103d

I once had the privilege of holding a very large tarantula (I believe London Zoo do something similar) and I have never been bothered by spiders since. Though I hate walking into their webs.

Bob Crossley ● 5103d

Maria, put a spider in a jam jar and pop on the top so it cannot escape.  Then have your daughter examine it at close quarters with no fear of it touching her.Hopefully she will see how wonderful nature is, how harmless spiders are, and how big she is in comparison with what is inside the jar.Then release spider into the garden.....It works - Once she holds the jam jar!

Dee Cook ● 5103d

Thank you for the tips..... they are pretty big and too fast for my liking..... husband will have to do the catching!  The silly thing is she is not scared of rats and mice that her cat brings in through the cat flap.

Maria Pettit ● 5103d

I forgot we got one of these from Amazon when we had a mouse problem last year. Cant say if it works but we haven't had any more mice or spiders inside since.Might be worth a try.New Twin Pack Electronic Ultrasonic Pest Insect Mouse Rats Spiders Repeller With Led Night Light Additional Ac Socket

Bob Crossley ● 5103d

Thank you for the suggestion. She has an ultrasonic spider repeller plugged in the whole time which seems to keep her flat quite clear of spiders - they tend to hang around outside the front door and on the walls of her stairs (she's lower ground).  It's the big hairy boys she's petrified of because they are very fast.She only has mice when the cat brings them in :o(

Maria Pettit ● 5102d

Definately noticed an increase in spiders in my garden, and pretty large ones too, great to see them, but yeah I hate the cob webs when I walk into them. I did see one indeed ensnare a bee, I was very conflicted, but decided to let nature take its course :(

Gareth Sinclair ● 5101d

They are pretty good friend sto have in and around the house imo.They eat horrible flies and mites,so can't be all bad.

Keith Iddon ● 5101d

I walked up the garden path this morning to the front gate and found that a web had been spun during the night. I ended up with cobwebs in my hair and a cross-looking spider on my shoulder. They do not seem to be very bright.

Susan Kelly ● 5101d

?

Keith Iddon ● 5101d

They are very bright, what else spins a web of invisible silk to catch it's food and, give us a substitute for hair spray when we walk into them.Have got a pet one in the bedroom, hiding behind the curtains, with its web attached to the wall and curtain edge.  some insect went into it, out came spider, dispatched and ate.  Now that is bright.

Nicola Howard ● 5101d

Re the fleas and cats.....perhaps using Advocate might help.  I used Frontline but I understand Advocate is even better.  It's worth checking also you've got the right prescription for the weight of your cat.

Angela White ● 5098d

Advocate is very good it apparently deals with insects and larvae like ticks which Frontline doesn't deal with.By the way i did a search and there are spider repellant sprays, not all of them are lethal.

Bob Crossley ● 5098d

It's not very bright to spin a web just where people are going to walk through it and destroy it.

Susan Kelly ● 5098d

There's a lovely one a few doors up from me, the anchor strand goes from lamp post to hedge, just above head height.  Must be a bright spider to think of that.  Also it seems to have prime position, always plenty of juicy insects.

Nicola Howard ● 5098d

Being spiders Susan I don't think they have the same priorities or cognitive powers of us soppy humans.They would think,if they could,that it is daft of you to walk into it.

Keith Iddon ● 5098d

Then I suggest they put up some kind of marker, like a traffic cone, make them less invisible.

Susan Kelly ● 5097d

Perhaps they could use that luminous stingy stuff that comes in an aerosol and is used at parties to get on everyone's tits by spraying it at them for no reason.

Keith Iddon ● 5097d

Good grief, Spider Rage.Next we'll be having spiders going to Spiderman, applying for ASBOs.

Nicola Howard ● 5097d