Has anyone else noticed the huge amount of false widow spiders around here lately ?? I live next to blackheath rugby club and have found them nesting outside my kids bedroom window and even in my car wing mirrors. That's one I got the other day.
My son lives in a cul-de-sac in South Ockendon and all the houses are running alive with them. They have spent the weekend jet washing all the exterior walls to try and kill them off. Give a nasty bite apparently.
This was all over the news 6 months ago, must admit I thought the spider appocolypse had past.
That's what they wanted us to think... but they can't fool me. I'm onto you, you many-legged monsters - I will not let the arachnid conspiracy triumph.
It's a little difficult to say with any certainty exactly how potent the bite of the "False Widow" is. There are several reasons for this. First, there are several species of spider that have been given this unfortunate nom de plume (though mainly from the genus Steotoda), so it's not always certain what we are talking about when we say "False Widow". Secondly, it's not always easy to identify spiders even with photographic evidence; even people with some experience can (and do) get it wrong. Thirdly, it's not the bite per se that does the damage but the venom within it - and that can have very different effects depending upon who is being bitten. What we do know is that those spiders commonly likened to the black widow tend to be non-aggressive and will only bite when they perceive a threat.
I was lucky enough to have this encounter on Tuesday in a Sussex pub. I think it's a Steatoda grossa (and if I'm right it's an older female). I rescued her from the sink in the gents, worried that some arse would try to wash her down the plughole. She ran up my arm and onto my back and then off into the garden. From my experience if you treat them with love and care, you'll have no problems.
Sadly I only had my compact camera on me so I could't get any decent shots.
I don't know, it maybe a climate change thing or perhaps we've got stowaways in overseas cargo. They have been recorded here for 100 years though, so they're not entirely new. Interestingly though, Steatoda nobilis which is the main spider named as a "False Widow" is known as the European Spider in the US and they are questioning how they have more of them recently.
Comments
Only dangerous if you are allergic.
Probably wrong now I've said that so hope someone can confirm or deny
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/insects-spiders/false-widow/false-widow-mistaken/index.html
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/insects-spiders/false-widow/false-widow-species/index.html
I'm fine with spiders part from those f*ckers.
I was lucky enough to have this encounter on Tuesday in a Sussex pub. I think it's a Steatoda grossa (and if I'm right it's an older female). I rescued her from the sink in the gents, worried that some arse would try to wash her down the plughole. She ran up my arm and onto my back and then off into the garden. From my experience if you treat them with love and care, you'll have no problems.
Sadly I only had my compact camera on me so I could't get any decent shots.
Why are we seeing this species in this country now. I don't remember hearing about them before ?
You've ruined my whole weekend.