False Accusations - our false widow spiders

By Kerry Williams

Communications Officer - Conservation

From Halloween bunting to sensationalised stories, spiders have an unfair creepy-crawly-villain reputation. The shift into autumn often reignites a focus on indoor spider sightings, and with it a renewed batch of clickbait fearmongering. Some of those getting the worst of it are the false widows.

Among six species of false widow spider in the UK, three are most common. The smaller of the two are native; the Rabbit Hutch Spider and the Cupboard Spider. The largest of the three, at 10-14mm body length, is the Noble False Widow. Although technically non-native, this species is pretty much part of the furniture, having arrived in the 1800s. They are mostly brown in colour with varying pale shades and patterns on the abdomen, which sometimes look ‘skull-shaped’; an awkward addition to the PR nightmare.

The latter two species have been known to deliver a bite to humans. However, like most spiders, they are not typically aggressive, sometimes biting in defence when handled. As ever, medical advice should be sought if you are concerned or vulnerable, but the bite is said to be comparable to a wasp sting.

Despite the clue in the name, false widows are often aligned with Black Widow Spiders. These non-UK species have a more potent bite, which can cause illness in humans, though to continue the arachno-advocacy, they are similarly passive in behaviour.

As with many vilified creatures, alarmism can lead to misidentification and incorrect reporting. One confusion species for the Noble False Widow is the Missing Sector Orb Web Spider. One way to differentiate them is by the webs; the latter produces the famous concentric circle style (often with one sector missing!) whereas Noble False Widows create criss-crossing, messy looking ‘tangle’ webs.

Contrary to the aspersions, spiders make excellent house guests. They are private, tidy and keep unwanted flying insects to a minimum, which is especially helpful if you have houseplants. If you have a spider in your home this autumn, at best, leave them be and observe their fascinating habits. If it’s necessary to move them do so gently, using a glass and piece of card, and carefully pop them outside, preferably in a similarly protective building, such as a shed, or nearby vegetation.

Tolerance and coexistence are vital for effective conservation, whether in our wider ecosystem, or in our own gardens and homes. With our urban environment expanding, we must continue to make space for nature, especially those who, like the false widows, are so wrongly maligned.