A SPIDER becoming common in Britain can put people in hospital with its bite, experts have finally established.
The danger posed by the noble false widow has long been debated by healthcare specialists.
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Now, researchers have shown that some victims suffer extreme swelling and pain for which they need hospital care.
National University of Ireland, Galway, set up a DNA database to help bite case doctors identify the spider responsible.
It said there was now no doubt that noble false widow spiders can cause “severe” venomous bites.
Originating from Madeira and the Canary Islands the noble false widow spider Steatoda nobilis now has the potential to become one of the world’s most invasive species of spider.
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It was first documented in Britain over 140 years ago, but in recent decades the species has suddenly increased in numbers, significantly expanding its range and density.
The reasons behind this sudden expansion are not clear.
Scientists have ruled out climate change as the likely cause but have suggested that a new genetic mutation within the species may have made noble false widows more adaptable to new environments.
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