Call for calm after alarm over false widow spiders

A number of sightings of the spider – one of Britain's most venomous – have been made at homes across the West Midlands.

And now Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is concerned that harmless house and garden spiders are being targeted by people mistaking them for false widow spiders.

County spider recorder Craig Slawson, who is based at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, said: "The noble false widow spider has not been recorded in Staffordshire and there have been no verified sightings. The photos of spiders that people have been seeing either in the press or on social media are of house and garden spiders, which are very common at this time of year.

"I am concerned that other spider species could be suffering because of people's fears about false widow spiders, and would ask that they refrain from harming them."

Anyone wanting to send Mr Slawson pictures of spiders for identification purposes can email enquiries@staffs-ecology.org.uk.

In the West Midlands, Richard Lloyd and Marcus Cork, who work at a car dealership in Willenhall, found a false widow spider during the course of their duties.

It had been hiding behind a mirror in a new Renault Traffic van that had been shipped directly from France.

Meanwhile, eight false widow spiders were spotted at the Shrewsbury home of Karen Burgoyne on two separate occasions last week.

However, Joshua Singh, 40, from Pheasant Road in Smethwick, believed he had found a false widow, but it in fact turned out to be a common garden spider. He said: "We know nothing about spiders so you are naturally worried when you see one with white patches which you are told could be poisonous."

Females lay up to 120 eggs at a time and a bite can trigger a fatal allergic reaction, although most people will suffer swelling and pain.