Will Hampshire's annual autumn spider invasion be the biggest yet?

Experts say millions of giant spiders are set to enter people’s homes across Hampshire in search of food, warmth and a partner.

According to the British Arachnological Association, they appear bigger than usual because of a successful feeding season.

But should people fear invasions like the one seen in the Hollywood film Arachnophobia, where poisonous spiders wreaked havoc on an American town?

Pest control specialist Sean Whelan believes that the public shouldn’t get shivers up their spines just yet.

Sean Whelan

His company, Whelan Pest Prevention, covers the south coast and has had an upsurge of call-outs to deal with spider infestations in the past two weeks.

Mr Whelan was called to a house in Redbridge, Southampton, where he saw a spider which was just smaller than an adult hand.

But despite seeing a giant spider, he believes that 99 per cent of spiders found in the UK are harmless and that the invasion of spiders will come to an end within weeks.

He said: “At this time of year spiders can start moving because the weather starts changing and the temperature drops.

“The big thing that goes against the spiders and helps us is that we get a real cold snap, and the big advantage is the temperature will reduce their cycle and they will hibernate rather than be active, because spiders rely very heavily on good weather.

“We will see more and more in the next couple of weeks.

“If anyone is really bothered, give us a ring and we will spray the room, but to be honest there is very little damage they can do and there is very little chance of being bitten.”

As reported in the Daily Echo, one Hampshire family have already had to face the reality of coming face-to-face with an army of large spiders.

Dan Jackson from Bursledon feared for his three-year-old son Ruben’s safety when he saw scores of tube web spiders scurrying around his garden.

Dan Jackson and his son Ruben

Tube web spiders are not uncommon in Hampshire.

Last year John and Jade Meyers from Eastleigh found around 50 spider webs on the outside walls of their house, less than a week after moving.

Anyone who sees a strange looking spider, or has no idea what sort of spider it could be can now have their fears put at ease - or not by using an ID app called “Spider in da House” which was created by scientists from the Society of Biology at the University of Gloucestershire.

It lists photos and descriptions of the 12 most common house spiders and can identify if the spider is male or female.

A tube web spider

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT) confirmed that there are 'significantly' more spiders around than usual.

Head of conservation at HIWWT, David Rumble explained that this is down to it being a good year for insects and spiders because of a damp start to the year because of floods and a warm summer and wet August.

He said: “The weather is perfect for spiders to reproduce. They are growing and reproducing fast, this is the time we get the big ones like the giant house spider.

“There are no health hazards from spiders, if anything they are good, as they eat pests like household flies.”

“Because of climate change spiders are now expanding their range from the continent to southern Britain and it is more likely in Hampshire to see exotic spiders spreading because of this.

“Spiders are wonderful and they interest people, fascinate people and terrify people but they are part of our wildlife and a healthy natural environment.”