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How To Identify And Get Rid Of False Widow Spiders - The Irish Sun
SPIDERS can be common in the UK and there are a few types that you need to be aware of.
The only one you need to pay special attention to is the false widow spider.
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False Widows are found in the UKThe false widow is regarded as one of Britain's most dangerous critters, and it's no surprise why.
False widow spiders come with a venomous bite capable of causing a severe allergic reaction in some people.
But their bites are very unlikely to be fatal and can easily be treated - here's how to deal with the spiders if you spot them in your home.
What is a false widow spider and how to identify one?Although the arachnid's venom usually has a mild effect on humans, some people have come down with horror injuries after reacting badly to being nipped.
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The most common type is a noble false widow and it is the largest of the three most common species, reaching a body length of between 8.5 and 11 millimetres.
The species is native to the Canary Islands and Madeira, but it gradually spread throughout Europe.
Are false widow spiders dangerous?Despite their name, false widows are not the deadly spiders they are thought to be.
Normally, their bite is similar to a wasp or bee sting, and it's not usually anything to worry about.
The main symptom indicating a bite is feeling pain at the site lasting between one and 12 hours, but this rarely lasts for more than 24 hours.
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Sex, porn, bacon bookmarks & snotty pages - what goes on in your libraryWhile they look similar to their more dangerous cousins, the black widows, they're nowhere near as harmful as them.
The females are more likely to bite than the males, and you can expect to experience severe pain and a fever.
There are over 650 species of spider known in the UK but only around 12 are recorded as species that have actually bitten humans.
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False widow spiders live a couple of years How do I get rid of false widow spiders?The British Pest Control Association recommend vacuuming and cleaning the affected area as this will remove the webs and spiders from your house.
But, if this isn't possible, control may be accomplished by the removal of the spider's prey.
This may involve the use of insecticidal sprays such as Effect Microtech CS and K-Othrine WG250.
How can I spot a false widow in my home?All species of false widow "have distinctive sets of markings on their abdomens: they have a narrow white or lighter band around the front of the abdomen towards their head, and also other markings that vary by species. However, all of these marks can be variable, faded, or missing, especially in adult females," according to the Natural History Museum.
"Females have a globular shiny abdomen, while male abdomens are smaller and less rounded, but are more clearly marked."
How do I prevent an infestation?You need to look out for the places where false widows tend to build their webs: cracks in walls, inside drainpipes and on any triangular frames inside the house.
As far as your garden is concerned, the critters are most likely to set up camp in sheds or on trellises, so keep an eye on these hotspots.
If you keep getting rid of their homes, the spiders are likely to abandon your house and set up camp somewhere else.
But since you're dealing with venomous critters, it's wise to use a broom when brushing away their webs.
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King Charles AXES royal train after 150 years as costs hit £1.2m a yearMany spiders tend to spend the winter hibernating - so the summer can often bring a tide of hiding spiders with it.
False widows, named because of their resemblance to the deadly black widow spider, are no different, leading to fears of a summer infestation across the UK.
Where and what time of year do false widow spiders lay eggs?Egg sacks are laid from spring through to autumn.
False widow spiders do not make nests, instead they make a scaffold web with which it catches prey.
Eggs are laid in a small, white spherical egg sac anchored close to the web.
How long do false widow spiders live?Male false widows are thought to live for only one year and die after mating.
However, females take two years to become an adult and may survive for a third year.
How Dangerous Are False Widow Spiders? - Natural History Museum
Every autumn there are reports of false widow spiders becoming uninvited eight-legged houseguests in homes across the UK.
But despite looking similar to the more dangerous black widows, all these spiders are likely to do is give you a small and relatively harmless bite.
It might seem like false widow spiders make a dash for your home as soon as the weather gets chilly, but they can actually be seen inside year-round.
Temperature may be one cause of the arachnid exodus as they attempt to get out of the cold, but some may have long gone unnoticed in the darkened corners of the house.
What does a false widow look like?False widows - species in the genus Steatoda - are sometimes confused for black widow spiders - species in the genus Latrodectus - and are mistakenly thought to be as dangerous. Both groups of spiders have a similar dark-coloured, globular body.
The name false widow is given to species in the genus Steatoda. Six false widow species live permanently in the UK.
The three most common false widows are:
The Mediterranean false widow spider, Steatoda paykulliana, is also an occasional visitor to the UK when it is accidently imported with produce.
Each species is fairly distinct in colour and size, with unique sets of markings on their abdomens.
Find out how to identify a false widow spider and work out which species you have seen.
Noble false widowsThe noble false widow is most commonly reported. It is the largest of the UK's three most common false widow species, reaching a body length of between seven and 14 millimetres, with the females typically larger than the males.
The noble false widow was first recorded in the UK in the 1870s - likely a stowaway on cargo ships from its native Madeira and Canary Islands.
But it is only since the 1980s that the species has gained a strong foothold, forming established populations in the majority of the southern counties - although it has now spread northwards.
Their webs are usually suspended at least 1.5 metres off the ground to allow the spiders to hunt flying insects. In homes they often prefer to skulk in kitchens and conservatories. Their webs are a tangle of threads, a characteristic of all false widow species.
The pattern on their bodies is often described as 'skull-shaped', which probably doesn't help their negative reputation.
Spiders often mistaken for false widowsThere are also plenty of other spiders that also cause confusion in homes and gardens across the UK.
Two of the most common are the missing sector orb weaver (Zygiella x-notata) and the lace webbed spider (Amaurobius species).
Both species, like false widows, are found all over the UK. The latter is also known to be a biter, although with similar (or even less) pain as a result, and few lasting symptoms.
Lace web spiders are most often found outdoors, building their webs on fences, sheds, walls and any general clutter lying about.
The missing sector orb weaver, however, is more of an indoors spider. Most homes in the UK are likely to have this spider in residence. This species is one of the few spiders that will feed through the winter, as long as there is plenty of food available.
Are false widows dangerous?There are over 650 species of spider known to live in the UK. Only around 12 of these are recorded as species that have bitten humans.
So, if you see a spider, the likelihood is that it is just a harmless, common British spider.
False widows are not the deadly spiders they are sometimes thought to be.
Although false widows do have a venomous bite, the venom is not particularly potent. Usually the only symptom is pain at the site which may radiate away from the bite. It ordinarily lasts between one and 12 hours, and rarely for more than 24 hours.
Often, the symptoms are no worse than the pain of a wasp sting.
Males are more prone to biting. But this is only because they leave the nest in search of a mate, often venturing indoors looking for females. They are only known to bite when provoked or trapped against skin.
There are sometimes reports of false widow bites that present with more sinister symptoms like rotting flesh and excruciating pain. But these are usually not backed up with formal spider identification.
The extreme side effects experienced are most likely the result of a secondary infection, likely bacterial, if the wound is not kept clean.
There is often hysteria surrounding these spiders, and they have unjustly earned a reputation for being a dangerous pest. But these spiders only bite when they feel threatened.
Should I kill a false widow spider?Jan Beccaloni, Curator of Arachnida and Myriapoda, says 'During my time at the Natural History Museum I have, not surprisingly, met many people who are scared of spiders. That's a great pity because spiders are awesome creatures which are sadly misunderstood.'
'Aside from their key role in feeding on pest insect species, their silk is being developed to make specialist clothing such as bullet-proof vests and their venom can be used in pain relief.'
'So next time you find an unwanted spider in your house, please don't kill it! Either leave it in peace, or humanely put it out in your shed.'
False widows can live in relative harmony with us - they're even tidy houseguests, helping to keep our homes clear of flying insects and other pesky invertebrates.
False Widow Spider Bite: How To Identify And Is It Dangerous?
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