Giant spiders invading Mid Ulster homes - search to find the biggest

Experts have warned that this year there could be a record number of the eight-legged beasts - which can measure up to 12cm in length - due to the fact that the summer has been wetter than usual, and mild.

Stuart Hine, a spider specialist from the Natural History museum said: “This is mating season. The males when they are mature will leave their webs in search of a female spider, so off they go on their little trek to find love.

“In doing so they stop feeding so they don’t actually live that long as an adult and they’re just sort of roaming around.

“They can give you a nip if you pick them up, but they are not harmful to humans.”

We’re searching for the biggest house spider in Mid Ulster.

Send your pictures of your resident house spiders to [email protected] or share via our Facebook and Twitter pages and we’ll publish the biggest and baddest.