When autumn arrives, many people see more spiders in their homes and gardens. It looks like there are more spiders, but experts say this is not true. There are not more spiders. Instead, the spiders are just easier to see because the weather is getting cold.
Spiders hatch from eggs in the spring. In the summer, these young spiders are very small. They stay hidden. By autumn, the spiders are much larger. They are also more active. This is why people see them more often.
Many large spiders in houses during autumn are male spiders. These males are looking for a mate. They leave their hiding places and move into open areas. This is why they enter human homes. This behavior makes people feel like there are more spiders than usual.
There are many different types of spiders. The house spider, Tegenaria domestica, is very common in homes. The cardinal spider, Tegenaria parietina, is also common. It is the largest spider in the UK. Its legs can reach 14 centimeters. Another common spider is the cellar spider, also called daddy-longlegs. You can find them in dark corners. In gardens, you can find the garden spider, Araneus diadematus. It has a white cross on its body.
If you find a spider and do not want to kill it, you can move it outside. Use a glass to trap the spider. Then, slide a piece of card under the glass. You can carry the spider outside and let it go. This is a safe way to live with spiders.