The false widow spider’s mating season is at its peak in August, so people in the UK are being warned to keep their windows closed. People think that the false widow is the most hazardous spider in the UK. It gets a lot busier in late summer when male spiders abandon their webs to look for a partner. Spiders move around more and are more prone to get into homes during particular seasons of the year. They can get in through open windows, air vents, gaps around doors, and even drainage pipes.
Experts say that fake widow bites aren’t usually deadly, but they can be quite painful and make some individuals sick. Dr. Tom Elwood, a well-known spider expert in the UK, says that most bites feel like a wasp sting: sharp, painful, and then itchy. He does, however, warn that more and more individuals are showing dangerous symptoms like swelling, a burning feeling, severe pain, and fever. In the UK, there have been a number of confirmed medical cases in the last several years that required patients to go to the hospital because of serious responses to fake widow spider bites. Health professionals and pest control experts are both worried about these worst cases.
The noble false widow spider (Steatoda nobilis) is native to the Canary Islands and Madeira. It has been in the UK since the late 1800s, but climate change and global trade have made it considerably more common in the last 20 years. The spider is doing well in both cities and the countryside in parts of England, Wales, and Scotland. This is because summers are hotter and winters are milder, which is good for breeding.
False widows like it when it’s warm and dry, and they don’t like places that are too busy. You can frequently locate them in attics, sheds, beneath furniture, around window frames, and in the corners of ceilings. Their webs are sticky and not very neat, and they often make them in places that are hard to observe right away. Most of the time, homeowners don’t know they have an infestation until they see a weird spider or get a terrible bite that they can’t explain.
Pest management experts and arachnologists believe that there are a number of critical things you can take to lower your risk of getting into contact with false widow spiders. In August, when the spiders are most active, it’s advisable to keep all of your windows closed all the time, especially at night and in the evening. During this short but hectic breeding season, it’s very important to keep them out of the house.
Cleaning window sills and corners often will help you stay safe by getting rid of webs and egg sacs. You should also fill in small cracks and gaps around the house, especially around pipes, vents, and door frames. You can also look in sheds or garages before going inside. You should also shake out any bedding, towels, or clothes that have been languishing in spare rooms or storage places.
If you’re feeling ill, you can put insect screens on your windows and vents to let air in and keep spiders out. Essential oils like tea tree, citrus, or peppermint oil can help keep bugs away. You may also keep bugs away by putting them around doors, windows, and baseboards. But these don’t always work.
People don’t think the false widow is a direct threat to life, especially for healthy people, but the rise in sightings and bites has made a lot of people more careful. Kids, older persons, and people with allergies or weak immune systems need to be extra careful not to get bitten. If someone gets bitten and has serious symptoms like trouble breathing, swelling that goes beyond the bite site, or a fever, they should go to the doctor very once.
In short, this late summer is when false widows are most active and spread out. You may greatly lower your chances of finding one of these spiders inside by doing basic things like keeping windows closed, cleaning often, and closing gaps. It’s normal to be terrified of spiders, but the best way to keep safe and not be shocked during the false widow’s mating season is to know what to expect and be ready.
