AUTUMN time can, sadly, bring it with a number of creepy crawlies who will be looking for a spot to live in our homes.

One of the most common - and annoying - sightings you will encounter in the UK is a crane fly (aka daddy long-legs!).

The crane flies traditionally flutter and bump clumsily around our homes after being attracted to lit windows at night.

Adult crane flies hatch in September after they've lived under the ground for almost a year as larvae.

If it's been a warm but rainy summer then you get very high numbers of crane flies. 

Adult crane flies only live for about two weeks and - due to pesticides - seeing huge swarms of crane flies is mostly a thing of the past, but that doesn't mean you won't come across one or two this autumn.

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And, although they are completely harmless, the size of them and the fact they look a little like flying spiders can make them a bit of a nuisance to deal with.

So, what can you do to get rid of crane flies once they are actually in your house?

Fly screens are said to be the best option when it comes to keeping the insects out of your home. These are also available in bulk on Amazon.

Another great option is to use a spider grabber.

These extendable catchers allow you to safely grab, move and release spiders, daddy long legs, moths and other bugs without harming them to place them back outside where they belong.

Other than that, turn off the lights if leaving any doors open and crane flies will not be so tempted to enter your home.

Got any other top tips for ridding your home of crane flies? Let us know in the comments!