VARIOUS NATIONAL MEDIA: Rapid global expansion of spider species could threaten native wildlife, warn scientists

    Press/Media: Research

    Description

    A large spider which resembles a black widow is spreading rapidly across the world – including the UK – threatening native wildlife species, warn German and British scientists.

    The Noble False Widow, Steatoda nobilis, native to Madeira and the Canary Islands, has been present in the South of England for more than a hundred years.

    But after a long period of stasis, it has recently started to appear in the North of England, as well as in new locations in countries around the globe.

    Period25 Feb 2019

    Media coverage

    3

    Media coverage

    • TitleHow FALSE WIDOW spiders are invading new countries and killing off other insects and wildlife
      Media name/outletMail Online
      Media typeWeb
      Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
      Date25/02/19
      DescriptionA large spider which resembles a black widow is spreading rapidly across the world – including the UK – threatening native wildlife species, warn German and British scientists.

      The Noble False Widow, Steatoda nobilis, native to Madeira and the Canary Islands, has been present in the South of England for more than a hundred years.

      But now, after a long period of stasis, it has recently started to appear in the North of England, plus other new locations around the globe.

      Specifically, biologists at the University of Manchester fear they'll attack 'vulnerable native species' in their new environments - prey much larger than the spider's own size. This, in turn, could disrupt the food chain and affect regional ecosystems.
      URLhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6742369/How-FALSE-WIDOW-spiders-invading-new-countries-killing-insects-wildlife.html
      PersonsRainer Breitling
    • TitleNoble False Widow spiders are migrating into the north of England
      Media name/outletManchester Evening News
      Media typeWeb
      Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
      Date25/02/19
      DescriptionNoble False Widow spiders, which invades by hitching a ride in suitcases and camper vans, have migrated to the north of England.

      The spider, native to Madeira and the Canary Islands, has been present in the south of England for more than 100 years.

      But it has recently started to appear in the north after a long period of stasis, as well as in new locations in countries around the globe.

      Scientists say the Steatoda nobilis spider, which resembles a black widow, is spreading rapidly across the globe and threatening native wildlife species.
      URLhttps://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/noble-false-widow-spiders-migrating-15881771
      PersonsRainer Breitling
    • TitleBlack widow spider relatives are spreading across Scotland
      Media name/outletThe Scotsman
      Media typeWeb
      Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
      Date25/02/19
      DescriptionA venomous spider related to the deadly black widow could soon be found widely across Scotland and the UK as it continues to spread to new locations around the globe.

      The species, known as the noble false widow, is originally from Madeira and the Canary Island but has been present in the south of England for a century.
      URLhttps://www.scotsman.com/news/black-widow-spider-relatives-are-spreading-across-scotland-1-4879074
      PersonsRainer Breitling

    Keywords

    • biology
    • false widow spiders
    • climate change