Your first instinct when spotting a spider in your home might be to grab something and squash it. But doing so could actually do more harm than good.

Our fear of spiders often comes from their unsettling appearance, their rapid movements, and the potential threat of venom.

In the UK, however, these eight-legged creatures are rarely a real danger. While spider bites do happen, AnimalWised reports that out of the 650+ species found in the country, only 12 have venom potent enough to pose any serious risk to humans.

Spiders tend to steer clear of humans and are far more afraid of us than we are of them. They only resort to biting as a last defense when they feel provoked.

Generally, these arachnids are calm and non-aggressive, only biting when they sense danger—such as being trapped or accidentally crushed.