False Widow Spider with Deadly Venom Bites Infant Multiple Times in Ireland

A false widow spider took a bite on 15-week-old infant, Charlie, who was playing at their home in the village of Shangarry in Country Cork, Ireland.

The infant's mother reportedly told that the spider crawled from behind her son's ear.

The mom noticed the spider attack when Charlie was lying on the mat and suddenly screamed.

Spider Attack

(Photo : PASCAL PAVANI/AFP via Getty Images)

Charlie was rushed to the hospital following the spider bite, which the emergency department prescribed painkillers to subdue the pain.

The incident comes as false widow spiders have been reported to be capable of invading UK homes, when their numbers multiplied from the recent hot weather, as cited by the Mirror UK.

Also Read: Noble False Widow Spider Has the Ability To Capture and Feeds on Bats

False Widow Spider

According to the Natural History Museum (NHM), the name false widow is designated to spider species in the genus Steatoda and six of these species are found across the UK.

Three most common false widows are the noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis), the cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa), and the rabbit hutch spider (Steatoda bipunctata).

The NHM says each species varies in color and size. However, false widows are sometimes mistaken for black widow spiders (Latrodectus sp.) and to be as dangerous as the latter.

While they are relatively less harmful, their poison can be life-threatening if left ignored or untreated.

Reported Sightings

The false widow originated from the Canary Islands and Madeira but has quickly spread not only in the UK but also in Ireland in recent years.

Every autumn there are reported sightings of false widow spiders becoming uninvited house guests in some houses across the UK.

In most cases, the eight-legged guests give residents relatively small bites and can be a nuisance once inside your clothes or other parts of your home, the museum adds.

False widow spiders are evidently seen dashing through homes during the onset of a chill weather.

Howeved they can also be seen throughout the year.

In relation to the recent spider attack, Sarah Jane Dennelly, the mother of the infant bitten by the noble false widow spider has cautioned people to be aware of the danger posed by the invasive species, according to the BBC.

Venomous Spider

Dennelly spoke of the said threat after a study showed that the venom from false widow spiders is 230 times strong than the spiders native in Ireland.

The mentioned study was published in the international journal Toxins.

A team of researchers from the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) investigated the spider's venom to determine why it has been successful at spreading through towns and cities globally, as summarized by Sky News.

The research team found not only that the arachnid's venom is more potent than any common spider in northern Europe, but the creature is also adept at using offensive strategies in different scenarios to emerge victorious.

The NUIG paper also revealed the false widows can make calculated decisions, especially on whether to attack a small or large prey, depending on the venom still left on their glands.

The findings confirmed previous observations as to why the species can overwhelm larger animals like bats, lizards, and even other spiders.

Related Article: Life-Threatening Bite of Noble False Widow Spider May Lead to Hospitalization