Overview

• Pest UK advises keeping windows and doors closed at night as mating season gets underway in late August and early September.
• Homeowners are urged to seal cracks around windows, doors, walls and pipework to block common entry points.
• Suggested deterrents include strong scents such as citrus, eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint and vinegar applied to sills and doorways.
• Some coverage recommends closing windows from about 7pm as a precaution, with one windows specialist calling the next four weeks crucial.
• Reports note male house spiders are roaming in search of mates and that false widows are also active as temperatures drop and evenings darken.