Hospital admissions for spider bites in England have doubled over the past decade, and researchers say the rapid spread of the noble false widow spider is the primary cause.

Provisional NHS data shows that 100 people required hospital treatment following contact with spiders in 2025, more than twice the 47 admissions recorded in 2015. Of those, 73 patients arrived through A&E departments, compared with 38 a decade earlier.

 

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The noble false widow, known scientifically as Steatoda nobilis, arrived in Britain as an accidental import from Madeira and the Canary Islands and has been spreading across the country ever since. Academics have described it as the most hazardous spider currently reproducing in Britain, capable of delivering a bite that causes significant local pain, swelling and, in more serious cases, tissue damage.

What the Internet Is Saying

One man made headlines earlier this year after being hospitalised with what was described as a flesh-eating bite from a false widow, an incident that drew widespread attention to the species’ growing presence.

Why It Matters

There is some disagreement among experts about how alarmed the public should be. Many bites, when they do occur, cause only mild symptoms similar to a wasp sting. The spiders are not aggressive and typically only bite when they feel threatened or are accidentally pressed against skin.

However, the steady increase in hospital admissions is difficult to dismiss. The species has expanded its range significantly and is now found far beyond its original coastal footholds in the south of England. Experts advise checking bedding, clothing and shoes in areas where the spider is known to be present, and seeking medical attention if a bite causes more than mild swelling or shows signs of infection.

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The Background

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