There are many insects around...I've had a huge spider in the middle of a web on the outside of my kitchen window for about two weeks and every day I see him devouring flies.
I live 550ft above sea level in Brighton.... perhaps it is too cold in winter for flies in my garden.
Even in the summer, there are hardly any flies around where I live. I think that DDT has successfully eliminated them.
I've got one that comes a ride every time I take the car out. It's spun a web between the wing mirror and the door handle and scuttles out of site as soon as I start the engine.
85 per cent of spider fauna overwinter in temperate climates, apparently, but we are largely unaware of them since they generally are living snug in leaf litter. We are certainly aware of house spiders though! They live for years, mostly out of sight,but making their presence felt when wandering around in the breeding season.