How Do Conkers Keep Spiders Away?
WouterIf you are in the UK, you will probably have heard of conkers. They are tiny reddish brown stones with a spiky green shell. They are often used to make dried flower arrangements, and their medicinal smell is a nice touch.
Some believe that they have a repellent effect on spiders. However, this has not been scientifically proven. Various experts have weighed in on the subject.
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has recently challenged the myth that horse chestnuts have a deterrent effect. They gave a prize of PS300 to the winner of a contest to test the conkers aforementioned enticement.
The RSC was inspired by an experiment carried out by a group of middle schoolers at the Roselyon Primary School in Cornwall, a small, private school in the southwest of England. The students tested out the theory that a small number of horse chestnuts could effectively repel spiders.
While it was easy to spot the’magic’ conkers, there was no proof that they actually worked. The RSC offered to give a grant to one group of students if they were able to produce evidence that a small number of horse chestnuts constituted a real deterrent.
It is no secret that spiders are a source of fear to many people, and this has prompted many homeowners to search for the best way to keep them out. Some have opted to spray their homes with cleaning solutions to discourage spiders. Others have strewn horse chestnuts in their gardens, or placed them in their entryways.
