GIANT spiders the size of a rat that eat fish and walk on water are making a comeback in Britain.
The marsh spider was threatened with extinction. In 2010, there were only three isolated populations left in the country. Drought, rising sea levels or storm surges could have wiped them out.
2
2
But this year a project to save them was launched by several conservation groups and in 2012 spiders were released on the grounds of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
Following efforts to save the species from extinction, their numbers have now increased again – a cause for concern for arachnophobic Britons.
The swamp spider’s leg span is as large as a man’s hand, and its webs can be up to 25 cm long – the size of a pizza.
These colossal animals now thrive in the wet marshlands of the UK – so Brits living near these areas should keep an eye out for them.
Sam Jenkinson, horticultural expert at Tiger, gives five tips on how to keep spiders away from your home, reports LancsLive.
1. Keep it clean and tidy
Clutter and trash attract spiders, so getting rid of any unnecessary clutter will help keep the creepy crawlies at bay.
Vacuuming, dusting, and removing piles of debris can make your home less than inviting to in-house arachnids.
2. Remove food sources
Spiders feed on insects. Therefore, places without spiders are unattractive.
You can use insecticides, traps and baits to eliminate insects – killing two birds with one stone by deterring anything that might try to eat them.
3. Growing specific plants
Spiders don’t like many plants. Growing these plants can help deter them from visiting your home.
Peppermint, basil, lavender and lemongrass can help keep spiders away, so consider planting these in your home or garden.
4. Laying firewood storage
Spiders love firewood for several reasons.
They can seek shelter under it, build webs in it and even lay eggs in it.
Insects also love firewood, which makes it even more attractive to hungry spiders looking for their next meal.
Keep this in mind when deciding where to store your wood.
5. Use natural repellents
Peppermint, vinegar and citrus fruits are unattractive in the eyes of the spider.
Spider phobics can use this to their advantage, as they can use these natural repellents in targeted locations to keep spiders away.
For example, make a peppermint spray with 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil and water.
Spray the spray around your home – especially at entry points like doors and windowsills – to keep spiders away.
A nice side effect is that peppermint has a very appealing smell to humans.
How to recognize the swamp spider
The marsh spider is the largest spider in Britain and therefore anything but difficult to spot.
According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), they are best observed when females set up a nursery for their offspring.
Tim Strudwick, RSPB reserve manager in the middle Yare Valley in Norfolk, said: “The female lays her eggs in a sac and when the young hatch from this sac about three weeks later, they form a nursery in the aquatic plants.”
“You can see it just above the water surface.
“So that’s what we’re counting on. Once you see one and keep your eye on it, you’ll see them everywhere because they’re something pretty unique.”
He added: “They catch the dew and if you come on a morning, a sunny morning, the light comes through them and they glow – you can see them with the naked eye from about 20 metres away.”
Tim Strudwick, site manager at RSPB Mid Yare Nature Reserve, couldn’t be prouder of the spider’s resurrection.
He said: “The marsh spider is one of Britain’s rarest invertebrates and we are proud of the role our reserves and teams have played in its reintroduction.”
“These spiders play an important role in maintaining the rich aquatic diversity in the grazing ditches of our reserves.”
However, if you think these oversized arachnids are just a nuisance, you are wrong.
Strudwick describes them as “impressively large, but also beautiful – it’s really something special to see.”
With their distinctive white or cream-colored stripes on the sides of their abdomen, these semi-aquatic spiders are an unforgettable sight.
And be careful if you’re near a pond—they can run across the water’s surface to grab their prey, which can include anything from other spiders to fish and even tadpoles.
Although the species is still listed as “endangered” and a priority species, annual spider surveys in September are expected to show another successful breeding year.
So if you want to see these giant spiders up close (and have the nerves of steel to do so), head to Strumpshaw Fen in Norfolk, where the best time to see them is between June and September.
