As the cooler weather approaches, the sneakiest of pests make their way into our homes. More specifically, spiders. While many of us may not be fond of these critters, there is no denying that these insects are fascinating creatures. Most houses likely have a spider or two lurking somewhere in the corners, but there are many things that we don’t know about these eight-legged creatures.

1. There are over 40,000 species of spiders in the world, but only a few are commonly found in our homes. These include cellar spiders, house spiders, and wolf spiders.

2. House spiders are one of the most common species of spiders found in homes. These small spiders are usually no more than a couple of centimetres long and have a distinctive greyish-brown colour. They are highly adaptable and can survive without food for long periods of time.

3. Despite common belief, most spiders are not harmful to humans. Even the venomous ones are typically non-lethal to humans. In fact, spiders can be helpful in controlling the population of other household pests such as flies and mosquitoes.

4. Spiders are excellent hunters thanks to their amazing vision. They have eight eyes that are arranged in various patterns depending on the species. The size and number of eyes can vary greatly between different species, and some even have a central pair of eyes that are much larger and more developed than the others.

5. Spiders are also incredible engineers. They create intricate spider webs that are made of strong, flexible silk. They use these webs to catch prey, and some spiders even build their own homes out of silk.

6. Many species of spiders can live for several years. Females of some species can live up to 25 years if they are not killed by predation or disease. However, most spiders live for a much shorter time period, usually only a few months to a year.

7. Spiders have a unique way of breathing. Instead of lungs, they have a system of tubes called tracheae that allows them to breathe. These tubes can be found all over their bodies and allow oxygen to pass directly into their bloodstream.

In conclusion, spiders are fascinating creatures that have been around for millions of years. They are beneficial to us in many ways and are not as scary as many people believe. So, the next time you encounter a spider in your home, try to appreciate their unique and impressive traits. Who knows, maybe you’ll learn something new about these eight-legged critters.