In the defence of the false widow spider

A spider expert from Sussex is trying to dispel some myths surrounding the false widow spider following a series of news reports about people being bitten.

Angela Hale, from Drusillas Park, said: “There has been a lot of recent press interest into the presence of false widow spiders in the UK. However, the truth is these spiders are incredibly common in the South of England and have been living happily all around us since 1879.”

Angela, who is also the secretary of the British Tarantula Society, keeps a collection of over 150 spiders at home in her spare bedroom!

She added: “The bite of a false widow is similar to that of a bee sting and has no long term lasting effects.”