Over the past few weeks, sightings of the False Widow spider in Ireland have circulated on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. In County Wexford alone, there have been several reports and rumours of people discovering this “deadly” spider inside their homes and garden sheds. In a country where venomous insects are not the norm, these kinds of reports tend to spread panic and fear.
Several tabloid newspapers and websites have repeatedly sensationalised the spider’s presence on Ireland’s shores. Insect specialist Stuart Hine, who works at the Natural History Museum in London, has criticised such sensationalism. “Of course I also explain the great value of spiders and how rare the event of spider bite in the UK actually is. I also always explain that up to 12 people die from wasp/bee stings in the UK each year and we do not panic so much about wasps and bees – But this never makes it past editing.”
Should I worry?
Firstly, the False Widow spider is not new to Ireland, despite reports suggesting otherwise. It arrived in the 1990s and early 2000s, after a string of mild winters. Equally venomous spiders such as the Cupboard Spider have been living in Ireland since the 1800s.
Secondly, bites from False Widow spiders are very rare. If bitten, the bite is generally harmless, comparable to a bee sting or wasp sting. It will be sore, but baking soda or toothpaste can relieve the sting. The bite poses a threat only to those who are allergic to it. Those who are allergic to bee stings may also react to False Widow bites, as their venom composition is similar.
Finally, over 20 years have passed since a person in Australia died of a spider bite, despite the country being home to numerous venomous spiders, including the Sydney funnel-web spider and the Redback spider.