Spider warning as false widows to invade British homes - how to stop them
Miserable summer weather could be creating perfect conditions for the UK's only poisonous spider to hide in your home - but experts say there are some ways to keep them at bay.
False widow spiders, which are distant relative of the deadly black widow, have seen a steady increase in population for several years - but this year's constant rain may be forcing them to hide for comfort. The eight-legged creatures are usually shy and are not regarded as dangerous, but their bites can produce a pain similar to a wasp sting.
As they look for cosy spaces to hibernate for the winter, it is thought they are already taking refuge inside warm, dry houses and businesses this summer to avoid the deluge. With 10 days of storms now forecast to batter the nation thanks to a persistent blast from the Atlantic jet stream, there are some key steps you can take to stop the creepy crawlies from making themselves at home.
The spider can inflict a pain similar to a wasp sting (Getty Images)Keeping clutter to a minimum will help lessen your chances, according to those in the know. Pest control expert Rob Simpson recently told The Sun that it is a good idea to "keep your house tidy and vacuum regularly", and if concerned you can "spray dark corners of the home with pesticides".
Expert Clive Boase, the owner of The Pest Management Consultancy in Suffolk, told the Mirror last year: “The population of false widows in the UK is growing all the time." "People don’t realise just how common they have become. They can survive both indoors and outdoors. They are generally shy creatures and won’t come out into the open – but they could crawl into curtains or perhaps clothing left on the floor."
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Earlier this year, a woman who thought she had a painful spot on her hand was shocked when doctors eventually found it was a bite from a false widow spider. Crystal Rudd, 28, first noticed the mark on her finger on March 25 and tried to pop it with a sterilised pin.
When the pain did not go away she went to A&E and was sent away with antibiotics and told to take antihistamines. However the swelling continued and the redness in her hand was beginning to spread to her arm when her husband, Stephen, took her back to hospital. Doctors performed a number of tests - and finally revealed she had been bitten by the most venomous arachnid in the UK.
According to the Wildlife Trusts, noble false widow spiders - the most common and largest of the species - are usually up to 14mm body length, with a leg span that covers a fifty pence piece. The front section of their body is dark brown, as are the legs, while the abdomen can vary with patterns of cream and dark brown marks.
Their marks are sometimes described as skull-shaped, though often the false widow can have very few markings at all. False widow spiders be spotted throughout the year, but are most commonly seen between July and November.
Anyone who suspects a bite should avoid scratching it and wash the area with soap and water, while inflammation can be reduced by applying antihistamine cream and using a plaster.
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