2 weeks Ago
Homeowners across the country have seen a rise in the number of spiders as well as the size of them in recent weeks. This comes after the news that tarantulas were confirmed to be in the UK in the form of purseweb spiders. Amid the panic, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust has provided some information on why the spiders are making their way into homes.
A BBOWT spokesperson said: “Spiders live alongside us all year round and this is something to celebrate, not fear. “These amazing animals are a vital part of our ecosystems, feeding on an astounding number of insects. “Some spiders have found their perfect home in our houses, hiding away behind furniture and hunting the other invertebrates that find their way inside, from house flies to wasps and mosquitoes.
“They tend to keep themselves to themselves, preferring dark corners where they can live in peace. “But in late summer and early autumn, some spiders become more active as males reach maturity and seek out a female to woo.” BBC researcher Adele Brand confirmed that alongside the regular spiders are tarantulas in the form of Britain’s only species, the purseweb spider.
The purseweb is a stay-at-home spider and spends most of its life inside that silken tube, which has been compared to an old purse and a dirty sock, hence its name. This whole structure can be up to 25cm long but only a small part protrudes above the soil surface. The Missouri Department of Conservation says: "Purseweb spiders have large, imposing chelicerae, and like nearly all other spiders, they possess venom to subdue their prey and can potentially bite a human if mishandled.
"But purseweb spider bites do not pose a danger to people, except for the rare cases of people who are highly sensitive to spider bites." Subscribe to the Oxford Mail for just £5 for five months in this flash sale 🗞️ Aside from the tarantulas many Oxfordshire and UK residents harbour a fear of arachnids due to biting but Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust has allayed such fears. “The fear of spiders often comes from worries about being bitten, but in reality, very few spiders in the UK are even capable of biting a person, and the small number that can rarely do,” added the spokesperson.
“For example, the noble false widow spider receives the worst press, but although they can bite, they are not aggressive and are only likely to do so if roughly handled. “In the rare, confirmed cases where a noble false widow has bitten someone, the bite has been compared to a wasp sting.” Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get: Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app.
