GIANT spiders with a ‘wasp sting’ bite are set to invade UK homes as the summer’s wet weather created the ‘perfect breeding ground’ for the arachnids.
False widows are considered the most venomous spider in the UK and are capable of inflicting a painful bite.
Experts are warning that the giant insects, which belong to the same family as the deadly black widow spider, have the perfect breeding ground due to the recent warm and wet weather.
Although their bite is not lethal, their venom can result in swelling and painful burns and may lead to fever.
The UK is on the cusp of the spider mating season, which typically begins in early September and peaks in mid-October but can last through November.
It’s a short period where spiders become more visible as males wander in search of females to mate with, according to Dustin Pest Control.
Cooler temperatures may also have driven the spiders to seek warmth and dryness inside homes.
This means many false widows may begin wandering around your home in the following months.
After this period, they tend to be seen indoors less frequently.
Female spiders typically stay in one place for their entire lives but males are always on the move, according to Fantastic Pest Control.
While this all may sound terrifying, false widow bites are incredibly unlikely as the spiders are rarely aggressive to humans, according to charity The Wildlife Trusts.
The group has said: “Confirmed cases of false widow bites are rare.
“Only the two larger species of false widow, the cupboard spider and the noble false widow, are likely to be able to bite through human skin at all.
“The spiders are not aggressive towards people, and generally don’t bite unless roughly handled; most recorded bites occur because of people accidentally touching a spider which then reacts defensively.
“In the extremely rare confirmed cases where a noble false widow has bitten someone, the bite has been compared to a wasp sting.
“In even rarer cases, the bite may cause a person to feel unwell for a short time.”
This comes as homes across the UK have been advised by spider experts to “patch up” and “seal” all windows and doors for up to six weeks.
The warning came as arachnid experts discussed spider season beginning up and down the country from September 1.
Jordan Foster, Pest Control Expert at Fantastic Services suggested: “Avoid letting those pesky crawlers take up residence in your home by sealing all spider entry points in your home.
“Your walls, doors, and windows must be patched up and sealed.
“Put mesh over the vents and cover the fireplace when it is not in use.
“Pay special attention to the kitchen, attic, and bathrooms, as the high moisture levels make them popular hiding places.”
False widow spiders may seem terrifying but are often harmless to humans. But if you want to stay on your toes, here's how to identify one.
All species of false widow “have distinctive sets of markings on their abdomens: they have a narrow white or lighter band around the front of the abdomen towards their head, and also other markings that vary by species. However, all of these marks can be variable, faded, or missing, especially in adult females,” according to the Natural History Museum.
“Females have a globular shiny abdomen, while male abdomens are smaller and less rounded, but are more clearly marked.”
The most common type of the spider is a noble false widow and it is the largest of the three most common species, reaching a body length of between 8.5 and 11 millimetres.
The species is native to the Canary Islands and Madeira, but it gradually spread throughout Europe.
To avoid an infestation, you need to look out for the places where false widows tend to build their webs: cracks in walls, inside drainpipes and on any triangular frames inside the house.
As far as your garden is concerned, the critters are most likely to set up camp in sheds or on trellises, so keep an eye on these hotspots.
If you keep getting rid of their homes, the spiders are likely to abandon your house and set up camp somewhere else.
But since you’re dealing with venomous critters, it’s wise to use a broom when brushing away their webs.
Many spiders tend to spend the winter hibernating – so the summer can often bring a tide of hiding spiders with it.
