Britain's 'most dangerous' spider bites: four Britons report noble false widow encounters

Britain's most dangerous spider is being reported in homes and beds as mating season drives the noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis) into households. In four separate incidents across the country, Britons described being bitten by these spiders, with males more prone to biting during this period.

Victims described a range of symptoms. Vicky O'Dell, 56, was on holiday near Skegness, Lincolnshire, when she found a spider on her clothing. "This massive spider fell out of my knickers," she said, and she was bitten on the top of her left thigh. Cambridge pensioner Richard Gallimore, 72, woke with blurred vision and found a large spider on his face. "I woke up and I couldn't see correctly out of my left eye," he said. "Britain's most dangerous spider" is invading our beds and even our underwear, disturbing new testimony from victims of their venom has revealed. Adam Abrehart, from Shefford, Bedfordshire, described a bite that left his leg swollen and turning black, landing him in hospital for three days. "So I brushed it away, but not before it bit me." The pain followed very quickly. "Within a minute or two I realised something was up," he said. Richard, 72, described how swollen skin came with piercing pains, noting it felt like needles and that the swelling progressed rapidly. Stewart, 43, of Solihull, recounted being bitten on both legs one night while he slept; he said his cat may have disturbed the spider on the bed.

Image: Noble false widow

Other accounts describe symptoms that followed more gradually. Amy Evans, from Redcar, North Yorkshire, was gardening when she felt a sting and later found two bites on her legs. She developed fever-like symptoms, swelling, and reduced ability to walk as days passed. She said the bites appeared after she cleared a massive heap of hedge cuttings, thinking it was a branch scratch at first. Over time, ankle swelling and numbness intensified, prompting medical attention.

Experts note that noble false widows are not native to Britain. They are believed to have arrived from the Canary Islands in banana boxes in the late 1800s and gradually spread northward. A 2020 paper by Clive Hambler, an Oxford University zoologist, described the species as among the most dangerous spiders breeding in Britain. The Natural History Museum, however, cautions that many bites are no worse than the pain of a wasp sting, highlighting that symptom severity varies from person to person. In some cases, individuals experience more serious reactions, particularly if venom exposure triggers allergic responses. The witnesses in this most recent wave of reports urge homeowners to check for spiders in living spaces, beds, and areas where children play, and to seek medical care if symptoms worsen.

Beyond individual cases, researchers point to the enduring curiosity about arachnids and human fear. Recent studies suggest a fear of spiders is a deeply rooted survival trait encoded in human DNA. Joshua New, a study leader from Columbia University in New York, argued that numerous African spider species with potent, vertebrate-specific venoms populated the continent long before hominids, creating long-standing exposure risks. He noted that humans remained at ongoing risk of encountering dangerous spiders in ancestral environments, which researchers say could help explain why arachnophobia persists as a common phobia today.

As mating season continues, authorities urge vigilance in homes and gardens. While not all bites result in severe illness, health professionals advise prompt evaluation for significant swelling, fever, or allergic reactions, particularly for individuals with prior venom sensitivities. Homeowners who discover or suspect noble false widows should take steps to professionally remove them, especially in households with children or pets, and to monitor for any signs of infection or escalating pain. The spiders’ status as an invasive, non-native species underscores the need for awareness as the season progresses and outdoor activity increases across the country.