This month’s topic might not be a crowd-pleaser, but I’m here to make the case for spiders. September is their time to shine, and I shall endeavour to show you just how brilliant they are, and maybe even win you over.

Seasonal spotlight
As summer’s buzz fades, spiders step into the spotlight. One of the stars of the season is the garden spider (Araneus diadematus), a common UK species known for its striking web and beautiful abdominal markings, sometimes resembling tiger stripes or even a cross.

The female is busy spinning webs to feed up before laying her eggs, and she must mate. This involves the much smaller male finding her, which, as you might have heard, is risky business. To avoid being mistaken for prey, he performs a careful tapping dance as he approaches her across the web. Even with care, she may attack or even eat the male!

It’s all fuel for the next generation: a noble (and rather gruesome) sacrifice. Her eggs will hatch in spring into spiderlings – yes, that’s the adorable name for baby spiders. Surprisingly cute, eh?

Distinguishing gender
If you want to tell the difference between male and female spiders, the easiest way, especially in late summer, is by looking at the abdomen – that’s the large, rounded back section. The female’s is noticeably bigger, as she’s busy bulking up for egg-laying. If you can get an even closer look, check out the pedipalps: these are the small leg-like appendages on either side of the head. These aren’t the mouth parts, and they are noticeably shorter than the legs. On males, they end in a distinctive bulb shape, which they use for mating.

So now you know. Next time you spot a garden spider, see if you can tell who’s who! Females often sit proudly in the centre of their magnificent webs, showing off their colours.

Compassionate coexistence
Spiders are brilliant pest controllers for your house. I know people tend not to appreciate their presence, but what do we appreciate even less? Flies. Rather than dousing your house in chemical bug spray, your resident eight-legged house-mates can sort them out just by doing their thing. They’re not paying rent, sure – but they’re earning their keep.

If you really can’t live with a spider in your home, try relocating it gently using a glass and a piece of paper. You could even use this copy of The Local Answer! But instead of releasing it straight into the cold outdoors, especially as temperatures drop, consider placing it somewhere sheltered, like a shed or boiler cupboard.

You might also have heard of bug hotels: small structures made from bamboo, logs, or stacked twigs. These make excellent winter hideouts for spiders and other invertebrates. It’s also a fun activity for in the garden. You can find instructions for how to build one on our website at this link.

And, while you’ve got that spider in a glass, why not take a moment to have a closer look? You might spot those pedipalps, admire its markings, or even try identifying the species. It’s a great chance to appreciate the little details that make spiders so fascinating.