Odd events in our bathroom - spider activity

[Dave2002]

We seem to have spiders in our bathroom. Sometimes they appear to remain motionless for hours, but if they are disturbed they'll move.

Today I noticed one hanging down, and another close by. Then they appeared to draw closer. One looked pretty motionless. I wondered if one was trying to eat the other, or if one was male, the other female, and they were attempting to mate. I went away for a while, after which it looked like only one was left, but now a few hours later there do seem to be two again.

They look like the same kind, so unless they are a cannibalistic species, perhaps mating is more likely.

[Flosshilde]

Experiencing some constipation, Dave? Or was it a long leisurely bath?

[Beef Oven!]

We seem to have spiders in our bathroom. Sometimes they appear to remain motionless for hours, but if they are disturbed they'll move.

Today I noticed one hanging down, and another close by. Then they appeared to draw closer. One looked pretty motionless. I wondered if one was trying to eat the other, or if one was male, the other female, and they were attempting to mate. I went away for a while, after which it looked like only one was left, but now a few hours later there do seem to be two again.

They look like the same kind, so unless they are a cannibalistic species, perhaps mating is more likely.

Have you thought about getting out a bit more? Maybe joining something like a ramblers' club, or perhaps voluntary work?

[Dave2002]

Have you thought about getting out a bit more? Maybe joining something like a ramblers' club, or perhaps voluntary work?

Maybe!

You mean join some other bunch of nutters to go roaming round the countryside?

I have never seen anything like this spider behaviour before, hence my interest.

[Serial_Apologist]

You have a website!

[Beef Oven!]

Maybe!

You mean join some other bunch of nutters to go roaming round the countryside?

I have never seen anything like this spider behaviour before, hence my interest.

Ok, you seem an incy wincy bit offended

[Ferretfancy]

We seem to have spiders in our bathroom. Sometimes they appear to remain motionless for hours, but if they are disturbed they'll move.

Today I noticed one hanging down, and another close by. Then they appeared to draw closer. One looked pretty motionless. I wondered if one was trying to eat the other, or if one was male, the other female, and they were attempting to mate. I went away for a while, after which it looked like only one was left, but now a few hours later there do seem to be two again.

They look like the same kind, so unless they are a cannibalistic species, perhaps mating is more likely.

Dave

Most of the British spider species die by about this time in the winter, with only a few surviving into the next Spring. This is because they mate in the Autumn and die after laying their eggs, which hatch out when the Spring arrives. The ones you saw are most likely the so called house spider, Tegenaria. They only wander into houses accidentally, their real home is more likely to be in a wood pile in the garden, or behind the bark of a tree.
Your two are probably in the bathroom because they need humidity, and they could well be on their last legs ( all eight!

Any arachnophobe will tell you that September and October are the most fearful times for them. This is because male spiders start searching for a mate, and get seen more.

Every summer I help out on a special project at London Zoo which is very successful at treating people who are terrified of spiders. The phobia dominates their lives in a way which is difficult to understand as a non sufferer. Luckily the cure really works and the clients go home triumphant.

[Mary Chambers]

I

Maybe!

You mean join some other bunch of nutters to go roaming round the countryside?

I have never seen anything like this spider behaviour before, hence my interest.

I am sympathetic about your interest. I'd be the same.

I have ladybirds in my bathroom, but they aren't doing anything unusual. I presume they've been hibernating somewhere.

[umslopogaas]

Alas I have no lady bird in my bathroom, though if I had, I'm sure I would have spied her.

[Nick Armstrong]

Have you thought about getting out a bit more? Maybe joining something like a ramblers' club, or perhaps voluntary work?

[visualnickmos]

I saw a small ad once:

Crap spider requires web designer

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Is a crap spider a bit like a dung beetle?

[teamsaint]

Remember the days before we had this stuff on the web?

[EdgeleyRob]

I always wondered what a webchat was.

[mangerton]

We seem to have spiders in our bathroom. Sometimes they appear to remain motionless for hours, but if they are disturbed they'll move.

Probably best not to disturb them, then. Doing so just leads to grief. eg:

A few years ago, when miss m was at Durham University - some considerable distance from Dundee.

One Sunday evening, 10.30 pm. My phone rings.

"Dad. There's a spider in my bath."

"And?"

"***************** !!!!!!!!!!"

I don't know where she learned such language. Probably from her mother. Anyway, I told her - glass, sheet of paper.

Twenty minutes later, phone rings again. "Dad, I was so brave...."