Those of us who are afraid of spiders are here for a few weeks as thousands of sex crazed spiders are about to invade our homes.

The arrival of fall marks the beginning of spider mating season.

The creepy eight-legged critters will leave their webs to take refuge inside in search of a mate.

When is spider mating season?

Spiders usually start to emerge in early September, with their presence noticeable in homes until around mid-October. After that, they tend to be spotted indoors less often.

Female spiders are known to stay in one place their entire lives, but males are always on the move.

During spider mating season, males will seek out females and often find them indoors, which is why you might notice more of them over the next couple of months.

In the UK there are over 650 different species of spiders and although all of them can bite, only 12 can harm humans.

Silver, cave and lace web spiders will likely be seen more frequently over the next few weeks, as well as house spiders, which are one of the largest spiders in the UK.

Males of this species can grow up to a terrifying 10cm in leg width, although this is the upper end of the scale, their size depending on what they have eaten.

After mating, the female will lay eggs and the male will usually die.

How can I prevent spiders from entering?

If you want to keep the eight-legged creatures out of your house, there are a few things you can try to deter them from sneaking inside.

Avoid clutter

Spiders love to take refuge in dark, damp, and crowded places, so making sure your home is clean can keep them away.

Be sure to vacuum and dust regularly, and store things in plastic-lidded boxes, rather than cardboard, to keep critters out.

Let in natural light

Avoid leaving blinds or curtains closed during the day or for extended periods of time when you are away from home, as spiders love the dark.

Using essential oils

Spiders ‘smell’ their paws, so strong smells will deter them from leaving their nooks and crannies.

Tea tree, rose, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, lemongrass, lavender, and eucalyptus are good oils to try.

Draw lines with chalk

Spiders taste good with their feet and they don’t like chalk, so drawing a line around window sills, your bed, or doorways will deter them from crossing.

Seal all cracks

Seal small cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings that spiders might use to gain access.

Keep foliage away from your home

Avoid letting plants grow too close to your house to crawl, as spiders will hide there.

Leaf litter and accumulated wood piles also make great spider hiding places, so be sure to keep your outdoor space tidy.

Do not use conkers

There is no evidence that conkers are effective in keeping spiders out.

Other strong flavors are likely to work better, such as garlic or vinegar.