So why do we see more spiders in our houses come late summer and early autumn?
The simple answer is sex.
Males of many species have now reached maturity and are on the hunt for a mate. It is these amorous arthropods that you'll see scuttling across your carpet of an evening in search of a willing partner.
The attractive warm dry environment of our homes - coupled with the tendency to keep windows open as the weather is still relatively mild - means that we see an influx of spiders in our houses at this time of year. Some species live alongside us in our homes year round, we are just more likely to notice them now, as they seek out mates and reproduce.
Love is in the air
Female spiders are usually quite a bit larger than males, but reach sexual maturity slightly later in the year. Eager males set out in early autumn to find a mate, ensuring that they are ready and waiting when the ladies make an appearance.
When he finds a partner, a male will approach and wait to be accepted, before joining her on her web and mating repeatedly. Once he's done his thing, he'll die as winter approaches (in some spider species cannibalism is not unusual, with larger females eating their mates after copulation).
The female spider will then overwinter, before feeding on early insects the following spring and laying her eggs. She may live well into the year.
Which species are you most likely to see?
The spiders that you encounter in your home are usually one of four species.