Header burger open
Search Logo

Jump To

Currently Viewing:

How Many Spiders Do You Eat In Your Sleep?

a profile image of TSA author Alex

Written by Alex Petrović

Sleep Consultant

a featured image of how many spiders do you eat in your sleep

26 March 2024 8 min read

You've probably read somewhere that we eat quite a few spiders in our sleep during our lifetime, but, have you ever wondered – is that actually true? Some people say we eat eight spiders throughout our life.

Have you ever looked at a spider on the wall and thought to yourself – I wonder could I eat it? Well, according to the internet, you don’t have to wonder – you’ve already done it.

Granted, the internet is overflowing with all kinds of information. Some are true, the others – not so much. For instance, you’ve probably heard or read that we feast on insects and swallow spiders while we sleep because they seem to wander into our mouths quite often.

Now, just how many spiders do you eat in your sleep is up for a debate. Is it one? Is it ten or more? Perhaps all of this is nothing more but a scary bedtime story.

Do spiders go into our mouths at all?

Spiders, regardless of what we think of them, won't come to us to get eaten. First of all, to eat a spider, you must put it into your mouth or have one walk in voluntarily. Now, considering how unlikely it is that you would decide to grab a spider and put it in your mouth on your own, we have to look at the other option.

an image of argiope bruennichi spider making a spider web

The other option is that the spider would somehow wander and end up in your mouth. Now, is that even possible? Well, according to science, that’s highly unlikely. First of all, unless you have some breathing issues, you’re going to sleep with your mouth shut and even if you manage to open them for a while – it is highly unlikely that a spider would crawl in.

Do spiders find us interesting so they go into our mouths?

Now, spiders have been known to enter various cavities, for instance, ear canals. There was a report a few years ago that a spider had entered a woman’s ear and had caused some hearing issues, as well as some major itchiness.

With that in mind, one could argue that spiders find us interesting. However, to be fair, it is not that often that a spider would crawl into your ear, mouth or nose, because, they don’t find humans particularly interesting. Everything we do during the night, including breathing, creates vibrations that scare the spiders away.

How likely is it to swallow a spider while sleeping?

If we had to put it simply, we'd say – swallowed spiders are not that likely to happen. You're far more likely to be bitten by jumping spiders during the night than you are to swallow one. According to biology, it is almost impossible that this would ever happen. Spiders don't tend to end up in our mouths and we don't swallow nearly as often when we sleep.

an image of european spider on a spider web

If you’ve ever found yourself woken up by a wet pillow because you were drooling, that’s because we don’t even swallow the saliva that often. Let alone crawling, 8-legged insects. Therefore, the chances of actually swallowing a spider are pretty, pretty slim – or the spider leg if you will.

What can we do to keep the spiders away while we are sleeping?

Now, just because your chances of swallowing a spider during the night are extremely low does not mean that the chances of finding a spider crawling in your room are 0%. Spiders are all around us. In fact, there’s probably one or two somewhere near you – you just don’t see them.

However, don’t be alarmed. Unless you live in Australia, which you luckily don’t, most of the spiders you’d find in a home are pretty much harmless to humans, but if you still don’t want them anywhere near you – here’s what you can do.

Use spider repellents

One of the most efficient ways to get rid of spiders, or any other insect for that matter, is to get an ultrasonic repellent. In this case, you’d get a spider repellent. Spider repellent is a small, portable, plug-in device that emits ultrasonic sounds that scare off spiders.

These high-frequency noises are said to be quite effective in deterring spiders and other insects, because, as we’ve already said, they don’t really appreciate the vibrations. Now, just how effective these are is yet to be proven, but according to what we know of spiders, they should do the work.

Use essential oils

Essential oils will improve your sleep quality, that's for sure. But, they can benefit you in so many ways and we’re sure you’re familiar with most of them, however, what you may not know is that the smell of essential oils can repel spiders.

According to various sources, peppermint essential oil is said to be the most effective in scaring away these 8-legged creatures. So, all you have to do to keep the spiders away from your bedroom is to mix several drops of peppermint essential oil with water and spray your room with it.

If you have hardwood floors, you can even try leaving soaked peppermint tea bags in corners of your room as that should do the trick, as well.

Clean your house often

It’s not that the spiders enjoy filth, but some other insects do. If you don’t clean as often as you should, you’re risking a major insect infestation in your home, which would then make spiders the least of your worries. To be fair, there would be web all over the place, but they’d also feast on other insects, so, there’s that.

an image of a spider in a spider net

However, what spiders do enjoy is peace and quiet, so, unless you clean often, you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a spider spin a web in every warm, dark corner of your bedroom and quite possibly lay some eggs, which would then result in a nightmare scene for a lot of people.

Do not eat in the bed

Just like it was the case a moment ago – don’t keep your place dirty. If you eat in bed, you’re pretty much guaranteed to leave crumbs all over the bed, floor or any other part of the room. Food crumbs attract insects, insects attract spiders and allegedly spiders enter your mouth while you sleep, so you can see where you’ve made the mistake.

Eat in the kitchen or dining room and leave the bedroom for sleeping and fun times. If you want to be romantic and have breakfast in bed from time to time – make sure you clean up good right after you’re done.

Call exterminators if having problems with spiders

To be honest, unless you’re living in the “land down under”, you’re probably not going to have to call the exterminators because there’s a spider infestation in your home. The UK climate is not the most pleasant for most spiders and there are no venomous (nor poisonous, so, feel free to swallow them if you wish) species natively living here, so even if you do notice a spider in your home – it’s highly unlikely that it can hurt you.

On the off-chance you do wind up with an infestation – you can call the exterminators. You probably won’t ever have to, but it’s nice to know that you could, right?

Do people swallow in their sleep?

Although swallowing does happen, it is more of an episodic action that takes time from time to time (during the sleep). It also happens that there are some time when people don't swallow for a few hours. Movement arousals, specific to REM stage of sleep, are often the main causes of the swallowing reflex. Therefore, theoretically, it is possible to swallow the spider – in case someone puts it directly in your mouth.

How many spiders does the average house have?

Each house/apartment has spiders – no doubt. However, this should not scare you (or it should?!) – an average number of spiders that you can find in 99% of the homes is 61.84, a general formula would be – 131 spiders per square meter. There might be one within your reach, right now!

an image of a woman holding a spider made of fabric

Do spiders like beds?

It is not uncommon for spiders to explore your bed and bedding. However, it is very unlikely that you will find one, especially when you are in the bed. The vibrations that we produce due to sleeping, moving or snoring, repel them and make your bed not an ideal place for them to stay. So, in general, spiders shouldn't stay too long in your bed.

Myth or truth – Do we eat spiders while we are sleeping?

It's time for the final verdict – do we really eat spiders while we're sleeping? No, absolutely not. This is nothing more but a myth. The chances of that ever happening are basically on par with winning the lottery, so, pretty much non-existent.

an image of a spider on a rock

We rarely sleep with our mouths open, we rarely swallow when we sleep and the spiders are virtually repelled by our body’s vibrations, meaning, they won’t come anywhere near us during the night. So, sleep tight, don’t worry about spiders crawling in your mouth and most importantly – don’t let the bed bugs bite you!

Recommended reading:

Comments (0)

There are no comments yet

About the author

Alex Petrović
Sleep Consultant
A CPD certified Sleep Consultant with more than 2000 hours of research into all the different ways we can get a great night's sleep. As a former insomniac, I know how difficult life can be without a nightly recovery and I love that I get to share everything I've learned with you all. So hopefully we can all sleep soundly!
Don't Miss Out!
Get the latest reviews, special offers, new releases and more…
@thesleepadvisors
Mattress Toppers are key! 🔑  They can bring your mattress to life. Want to learn more? 

The Sleep Advisors have got you covered!😎

#ɪɴsᴛᴀʀᴇᴇʟs #instareelsdaily #instareels #sleepadvisorsuk #reelsofinstagram #MATTRESSTOPPERS
@emmasleepuk  has picked up the award for 'Best Cooling Mattress ' 🥳. If you're a hot sleeper this is the one for you!🥵

Click the link in our bio for the award-winning details 😎

Make sure you keep your eyes on our profile for more award winners 👀🏆

#sleepadvisorsuk #emmamattres #emmamattress #thesleepadvisorsuk #bestmattressaward
Your sleeping position isn't just about comfort—it can also impact the intensity of your dreams! 🌙💭 

Whether you're a starfish sprawler or a curled-up cuddler, the way you sleep might just dictate the adventures you embark on in dreamland. 😴✨

 #DreamScience #DidYouKnow #sleepadvisors #sleepadvisorsuk #funfacts
Sleeping on the job? That's our specialty! 😴 

Meet Our Team of SleepAdvisors, they love their job and you can see why!😆

We're your ultimate destination for all things bedding – from dreamy mattresses to fluffy pillows. We've got your sleep covered! 💤 #TheSleepAdvisors #thesleepadvisorsuk #instareels #reelsofinstagram #reelsofinsta
'Best Orthopedic Mattress'! 🏆 Quality sleep is essential for a healthy lifestyle, and that's why we've crowned 'Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress' as the Best Orthopedic Mattress

Make sure you keep your eyes on our profile for more award winners 👀🏆

 #sleepadvisorsuk #SweetDreamsAhead #simbasleeps
Behind every beautifully inked piece lies a crucial factor: quality sleep. 💤✨ 

Remember, the healing journey of tattoos isn't just skin deep; it's influenced by the restorative power of a good night's sleep. 🌙 #InkHealing #SleepMatters #thesleepadvisors #funfact #DidYouKnow
😂 Bloopers Galore: Eye Masks for Sleep - The Outtakes! 😴 We love what we do at TheSleepAdvisors, even if sometimes we can't find the words! 😂

#sleepadvisorsuk #sleepadvisors #instareels #instareelsdaily #ɪɴsᴛᴀʀᴇᴇʟs #reelsofinstagram #sleepadvisors #instareels #instareelsdaily #ɪɴsᴛᴀʀᴇᴇʟs #reelsofinstagram
🌟We're thrilled to announce the winners of the prestigious Top Mattress Brands Awards! 🏆

Dive into our latest post to discover the sleep game-changers that have earned the spotlight! 

We’ve given a thorough test to all the products in the market and found the best for YOUR needs. If you are a side sleeper, we’ve picked the best for you. If you’re are back pain sufferer, we’ve got you sorted.🤗

 #sleepadvisorsuk #SweetDreamsAhead
Dreaming of a night's sleep from the future?  Futuristic Pillows are coming soon - the ultimate blend of innovation and comfort! 🚀✨ 

.Experience the innovation firsthand and redefine your idea of a perfect night's sleep. #FutureComfort #TechPillows #SweetDreamsAhead #sleepadvisorsuk
Have you ever wondered what it's like to sleep in a cloud? ☁️☁️

Wrap yourself in the comfort of a cloud with our Panda Cloud Duvet ☁️✨ Fall into a world of cosy bliss every night, as this duvet cocoons you in softness like no other. 🤗

Say goodbye to restless nights and hello to the ultimate in comfort. Sleep tight, dream big, and let the Panda Cloud Duvet elevate your bedtime routine to new heights of relaxation. #PandaComfort #CosyNights #instareel #reelsofinstagram #t#thesleepadvisor
Close button

Don't Miss Out!

Get the latest reviews, special offers, new releases and more…

By submitting this form, you are opting into our mailing lists.
See our privacy policy.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.