Areas of UK put on 'high alert' over 'country's most dangerous spider'
Six UK cities and countries are on high alert as venomous spiders begin to invade homes this August. Spider season is officially here, with reports of massive spiders sneaking into homes already circulating across the nation.
Typically, spider season kicks off in late August as the warm weather begins to wane, but any day now, spiders will start appearing uninvited in our homes, a trend that's expected to continue until October.
False widow spiders, known as the UK's most dangerous spider, are causing concern. The noble false widow, Britain's most venomous spider, is often blamed for an increasing number of bite incidents. While most bites are mild, some can lead to swelling, pain and, in rare instances, severe infection. In other news, Brits are told to never put one banned item in garden bins as you could face punishment.
These spiders are commonly found in window corners, sheds, garages and undisturbed indoor spaces. They flourish in warm environments and are now widespread in parts of southern England, reports the Express.
Steatoda bipunctata, also known as the rabbit hutch spider
Steatoda grossa, also known as the cupboard spider
Steatoda nobilis, also known as the noble false widow
In one extreme case from Berkshire, personal trainer Ivan Savage nearly lost his life in 2023 after being bitten by a false widow in his home. He was hospitalised with sepsis and required emergency surgery after pest control found over 500 false widows inside the property.
Although fatalities are extremely rare, a 60 year old woman in Hampshire died in 2014 after developing sepsis believed to be linked to a false widow bite - making it one of the UK's only confirmed fatal cases.
Dr Tom Elwood, an arachnology expert at Quote My Wall, has warned that six UK areas are currently on 'high alert' for false widow spiders. These are:
Bristol
Essex
Devon
Kent
London
Norfolk
He stated: "The spiders don't wait until autumn. They're already active now - and if you've got poorly maintained windows, you're giving them easy access."
It's important to act immediately to prevent them from marking territory in your home given they are most active and visible from July to November. Don't worry if you're afraid of spiders; by following these simple instructions, you'll be keeping False Widow spiders and other insects far from you.
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