FalseWidow Help

Jellie · #1 (**permalink**) 12-09-2011, 08:42 PM

Hi can any body please tell me if what i have found is a Steatoda nobilis ie false widow spider.Ive found at least 3 plus a load of babies all around my back door should i be worried as i dont want my kids getting bitten.

John_M · #2 (**permalink**) 12-09-2011, 08:48 PM

Yes, that's Steatoda nobilis. We have loads in and outside the kitchen, and all along the garden fence. Nothing to worry about.

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 12-09-2011, 08:52 PM

Yes, looks like S. nobilis - they'll leave you well alone as long as they're not accidentally touched/roughly-handled.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellie

Ive found at least 3 plus a load of babies all around my back door should i be worried as i dont want my kids getting bitten.

Are the 'load of babies all around my back door' your own, or do you mean spiderlings?

faz · #4 (**permalink**) 13-09-2011, 06:45 AM

hi and welcome to WAB

The false widow spider (Steatoda nobilis) probably arrived in the UK from the Canary Islands. It was first recorded in Torquay, Devon, back in 1879. Since then it has adapted well to our colder climate.

False widows belong to a group of spiders which are part of the same family as the infamous Black Widow spiders, although they are nowhere near as toxic.

They're frequently mistaken for Black Widow spiders, which has led to the common name of "False Widow" spiders.
False widows have a reputation for biting people, although in truth, this is quite a rare occurrence. You would need to be very unlucky, or go out of your way to be bitten. They only bite if mishandled or provoked. same as any animal really People who have experienced the bite say it's similar to a bee sting.