THE GIANT SPIDER invasion of Irish homes is in full swing.
Tweets like this, and photos of terrifying spiders are flooding social media.
Not to mention our homes.
But is this actually a phenomenon? Is the spider invasion real?
Myles Nolan, an arachnologist with The National Museum of Ireland told DailyEdge.ie that itâs all down to an increase in size by female Steatoda nobilis (false widow).
Weâre simply noticing them more because theyâre bigger, and males are out looking to mate with them.
Males of the the large false widow leave their web when they mature to search for females. Females develop their egg-mass internally and become quite large and thus are noticed more by the general public.
All of these specimens have been around as juveniles throughout the earlier part of the year. This seeming growth in abundance happens at this time of year every year.
The spiders in question are usually just common house spiders, the Tegenaria species, as well as the large false widow Steatoda nobilis and the common garden spider Araneus diadematus.
They also mature at this time of year and tend to be noticed more frequently than at other times.
It doesnât help that the weather is cooling and theyâre moving indoors. TO YOUR GAFF.
But are they dangerous?
Myles tells us the common house spider is âfundamentally harmless to humansâ, so while theyâre big and icky, they wonât hurt you.
What can you do to prevent it?
Itâs recommended you get rid of the spider (outside) as soon as possible, and as far from your house as you can get, as they could potentially lay eggs in the house.
As for avoiding them? Keep windows and doors closed if possible, but even then, you canât stop the invasion.
Hey, spiders need love too.
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