False widow spiders: 10 facts
False widow spiders; a sensation in the papers, and a cause of horror for arachnophobes young and old.
Experts are now warning that these venomous creatures could soon be invading our homes, as warmer conditions across the country create the ideal habitat for a 'population boom'.
But what do we really know about false widow spiders?
Check out our top 10 facts:
False widow spiders first arrived in the UK in the 1870s.
They are sometimes mistaken for the deadly black widow spider, due to a similar appearance.
There are six different species of false widow spiders that can currently be found within Britain.
All are black or brown and most are small, with the larger females growing up to 15mm in length.
False widows are one of only a dozen species of spiders living in the UK capable of biting humans.
Though adult females can bite, the smaller males are not thought to be capable.
Adult females can survive for a number of years, whilst adult males may only live for a few months.
The spiders are not believed to be aggressive, and biting is mainly thought to occur if they become trapped between skin and clothes.
Pain, redness and swelling is the typical response to a bite, though in rare instances allergic reactions can occur.
Noble false widow spiders are one of the largest and best established species of false widows living here in the UK. They first arrived on banana imports from the Canary Islands and Madeira.
Sources: Natural History Museum; NHS 'Live Well'; British Arachnological Society