People across the UK have been urged not to bother picking up conkers this autumn if their only intention is to scatter them around the house. It comes as the spider mating season reaches its peak, with male spiders crawling into homes in hopes of finding a mate.
Between August and October, male spiders abandon their webs to search for a female to mate with. Due to their natural instincts, they head to warm and dry environments, like homes. As harmless as most spiders in the UK are, for many homeowners, they aren’t welcome guests.
People will often use various deterrents to keep spiders away, including chestnut seeds. Over the past week, there’s been a 110% increase in searches for “spiders and conkers” and the question “do spiders hate conkers?” as homeowners try to drive them away from their homes using the chestnut seeds.
Due to popular belief, countless people think that collecting conkers from outside and placing them on window sills, around corners, and other areas of the home will stop spiders, but this isn’t true. As a result, UK households are being urged not to bother collecting any this year if they only plan on using them for this reason.
It is not clear where the myth of spiders disliking conkers came from. However, it probably started with the thought that horse chestnuts have some nasty chemical that keeps spiders away. No one has actually found this chemical, and studies show that spiders don’t really mind conkers at all.
Studies have demonstrated that spiders aren’t afraid of conkers and will stroll right over them. In fact, many spiders make their homes in horse chestnut trees where conkers are found, which proves that conkers don’t keep them away.
An experiment by students in 2010, which won a Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) award, showed that spiders climbed over conkers and chose to cross bridges made of them.
Rather than depending on conkers, specialists suggest using more dependable techniques to keep spiders away from your house. One surefire tip to follow is to maintain a tidy home, as consistent cleaning and vacuuming will help get rid of spiders, their webs, and the insects they hunt.
Block any possible entryways, including sealing gaps and cracks in your home that might let spiders in. Remove clutter both inside and outside your home since spiders like to hide in these spots. If you find any cobwebs in your home, take them down, as that will help deter spiders from staying.
You can always try using natural scents to make your home an undesirable and unsuitable place for spiders to mate in. Spiders aren’t fans of strong odours, so try using essential oils or mixtures that include citrus, peppermint, tea tree, or eucalyptus.
Combine a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle and spray it around windows, doors, and other spots where they might get in. You can also consider placing lemon peels or using lemon-scented products throughout your home.
Another option involves vinegar. You can spray a mix of equal parts white vinegar and water around entry points, but avoid using it on varnished surfaces or certain fabrics.
Indoor plants with strong, sharp scents are thought to keep spiders away. Some of the best ones include lavender, peppermint, basil, rosemary, eucalyptus, and lemon balm. You can place these plants in pots throughout your home, and for certain ones, like mint and eucalyptus, crushing their leaves can release a stronger scent that repels spiders.