We’re in the thick of spider mating season, so naturally they’re popping up all over the home. Whether there’s one chilling on your ceiling, making a dash across the carpet or hiding at the back of the wardrobe, they can be found almost everywhere. But one spider hotspot has to be the bathtub.
A spider is difficult to miss in the tub with its white porcelain surroundings. It’s clear that it's trapped here, but what’s attracting it and how did it get there in the first place? I spoke to Adam Hart, professor of conservation ecology at the University of Gloucestershire, to find out what you should do when a spider gets caught in a bathtub, and how best to catch and release it in such slippery circumstances.
Why is there a spider in the bath?
‘There's a common myth that spiders found in baths have climbed up through the plughole,’ says Professor Hart. ‘That's not what has happened. House spiders usually wander into the bath from elsewhere and then become trapped because they can't climb the smooth sides.’
So while Incy Wincy Spider might have you believe that the spider has crawled up the wrong spout, that’s just not true. In fact, in its hunt for moisture, food or a female, the spider has unwittingly slid into the bath and has nothing to grip to climb out again.
What to do if there’s a spider in the bath
Depending on how you feel about spiders, there’s a couple of options here. Although the one we recommend is: toss the spider a lifeline – or in this case, a towel.
Professor Hart continues: ‘The smooth, steep sides of a bathtub can be extremely difficult for a house spider to climb, so draping a dry towel over the side effectively provides it with a ladder. Spiders are useful predators and feed on flies and other small invertebrates, so if it climbs out and disappears somewhere unobtrusive, it can simply carry on providing free pest control!’
Spiders will eat flies, clothes moths, mosquitoes and silverfish, so leaving them to their own devices can save from dealing with the real pests. You need only chuck a towel, the bathmat or even a dressing gown over the edge of the tub to give them a way out.
Spiders are most active and visible now due to spider mating season, but they will soon calm down and be back out of sight if they make you startle easily (early November is when the season ends). But if you really don’t want them in your home, there are ways to catch and release them safely.
How to catch a spider in the bath
Of course, the go-to cup and card trick is at your disposal. You simply trap the spider under a cup, carefully slide a card beneath and then take it outside to release (ideally in a sheltered spot like the shed or garage). But it’s not always easy to catch a spider like this when the surface is a curved bathtub.
‘Another option is a purpose-made, long-handled spider catcher, which can be useful for anyone who is nervous about getting close,’ advises Professor Hart. ‘If using one, just make sure it's the type designed to capture rather than kill the spider and use it gently so the legs aren't damaged. You can also put a container in front of the spider and gently encourage it towards it, using a piece of card or a soft brush, rather than trying to trap it against the curved surface of the bath.’
There are spider catchers available with a bristled design that can reach around the bowl of your bath. This would be an easy alternative to the traditional cup and card trap. The bristles are soft enough to grip the spider without harming it, and you simply release where you want to place it.
What not to do
Do not flush the spider down the drain and assume it will be fine.
Professor Hart says: ‘There's really no need. Flushing exposes the spider to water and potentially detergents and sends it into plumbing where it may drown or die. If you don't want the spider in your bathroom, it takes very little effort to move it humanely instead.’
So, there you have it. It’s better to offer the incy wincy spider a towel; he is in the bath after all!
