How Many Spiders Do You Eat in Your Sleep?

Spiders are one of the most common fears people have. They have been featured in several horror movies and have led to the creation of many clever contraptions designed to catch them. It’s safe to say that spiders aren’t the most beloved species among humans. In fact, around 6% of the population suffers from arachnophobia, the fear of spiders.

While it’s unsettling to spot a spider scurrying across your living room floor, at least you’re awake and can deal with it. But when we go to sleep, the fear of the unknown takes over, and our minds may conjure up images of creepy crawlies lurking just out of sight, ready to pounce when our eyes are closed.

Do you swallow spiders while you sleep?

It’s a well-known myth that we swallow spiders in our sleep, with claims suggesting we ingest around eight per year. However, experts agree there’s no truth to this, and the chances of swallowing a spider while asleep are extremely low. Let’s look at the reasons why.

1. Spiders avoid humans

Although often cast as villains in society, spiders are actually harmless creatures that prefer to keep to themselves. House spiders typically seek quiet, warm and moist spaces with easy access to food. Your bedroom is unlikely to attract them due to human activity and a general lack of food sources. Moreover, spiders are far more likely to be scared of humans because of our much larger size, so they tend to run away from us rather than towards us.

A spider walks on a wooden table outside.

2. Breathing repels them

Even if a spider has spun a web in your room, the likelihood of it venturing near you, especially your mouth, is incredibly low. When you exhale, the carbon dioxide and water vapour released actually act as a deterrent for spiders. Since they breathe in oxygen, the air we exhale is not an environment they are drawn to and may even act as an obstacle for them, keeping them far away from your face.

3. You would wake up

Unless you’re an incredibly deep sleeper, the sensation of a spider crawling on your face would most likely wake you up long before it got anywhere near your mouth. Even in the unlikely event that a spider did wander into your mouth, the surprise would certainly be enough to startle you awake. However, it’s highly unlikely for a spider to get that far in the first place.

4. Your mouth is probably closed

Most people naturally keep their mouths closed while sleeping unless their nasal passages are blocked, such as by a cold or sleep apnoea. This means your mouth is likely sealed during sleep, preventing any insects from sneaking in.

Read our article on mouth taping for a surefire way to ensure that you breathe through your nose throughout the night.

Where does the fear of spiders come from?

Studies suggest that our fear of spiders may be an evolutionary response. This fear likely stems from a need to protect ourselves from more dangerous arachnids, such as scorpions, which once posed a threat to our ancestors. Over time, our brains became wired to be wary of hairy-bodied, long-legged creatures, transferring this fear to spiders and giving them a bad reputation—even though most pose no risk to humans.

Other theories suggest that a fear of spiders may result from nurture rather than nature, stemming from a negative experience with a spider or exposure to a parent or family member with arachnophobia.

If the fear of spiders is keeping you awake at night, read our article on how to calm feelings of anxiety for a better night’s sleep.

Are there poisonous spiders in the UK?

There are around 660 different spider species in the UK, but the good news is that most pose very little threat to humans. Only twelve species are known to bite, and even then, they do so rarely and only in self-defence. While spider bites can cause minor irritation, such as itching or swelling, these symptoms generally subside quickly. The most well-known venomous spider in the UK, the false widow, may cause more noticeable symptoms, but these typically last only a few days. Fortunately, bites from these spiders are rare and usually not severe.

If the thought of swallowing spiders has been keeping you up at night, rest assured—it’s just a myth. As the saying goes, spiders are more afraid of you than you are of them. Plus, most spiders in the UK are harmless, so you can sleep peacefully knowing that Incy Wincy poses no threat.