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Otago Daily Times
07-07-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Venomous spider identification retracted
Claims of a South Dunedin sighting of a spider with a venomous bite have been rebuffed by an arachnologist. The noble false widow was positively identified in Christchurch and Nelson last week after being spotted in Wellington last December. Subsequently, a South Dunedin resident claimed they had spotted one of the potentially dangerous spiders in their backyard in February. Pest Management Association of New Zealand (PMANZ) executive councillor Vicki Smith was sent a photo of it by the resident after they heard about the spider in the media. Ms Smith sent the photo to PMANZ entomologist Dr Paul Craddock, who initially confirmed the spider was the noble false widow. However, University of Otago department of botany PhD candidate James Crofts-Bennett yesterday said the spider in the photo was not the Canary Island native noble false widow, but rather the South African false katipō. "I'm going to have to disagree [with Dr Craddock]" "That little red spot on the back is the go-to for a false katipō." He would have to dissect the spider to be absolutely sure, but the stripes of the white spots and a red patch on its lower back in the photo suggested it was a false katipō, Mr Crofts-Bennett said. It was easy to confuse the two spiders because of their similarities. University of Otago department of botany PhD candidate James Crofts-Bennett says the identification of a noble false widow spider in South Dunedin is incorrect. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY The two spiders had similar inherent risks from bites, but neither posed a serious risk to humans, he said. "These things are not that scary. "You've been living with these for so long without knowing it." The bigger issue was the spiders' impact on the environment. "They're really hardy and well-adapted, so they do move into a lot of spaces where our native spiders like to inhabit and they sort of push them out." Dr Craddock yesterday took back his initial identification. He told the Otago Daily Times he trusted the opinion of Mr Crofts-Bennett because he had not had the opportunity to properly inspect the spider. Ms Smith said if the false widow were to appear in Dunedin, it would start popping up a lot in springtime because it liked warmer weather. "It likes to be outside, so I would recommend that people check their garden furniture." Until then, it would hide away in the nooks and crannies of people's houses. "Spiders during winter love to come inside to hibernate — they're like us: they like the creature comforts."
Otago Daily Times
02-07-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Spider with ‘sinister bite' controllable: pest expert
The false widow spider has started to spread across the UK and is thought of as being very dangerous. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES A Dunedin pest control specialist is confident the city has the capability to control the spread of a venomous spider with a "potentially sinister bite". The noble false widow spider has been sighted in Christchurch and Nelson after first being seen in Wellington last December. Massey University evolutionary ecologist Prof Steven Trewick said the spider had now established itself in New Zealand. He said the spider was not aggressive, but might bite in self-defence. Pest Management Association of New Zealand executive councillor Vicki Smith is yet to encountered the spider in the South Island. However, if it made its way further south, the region was well equipped to deal with it, she said. "It'd be easy. It's only like dealing with the white-tails." Ms Smith pointed to another invasive species that appears to be making its way south, which could soon pop up in Dunedin. Although there had not been any reports of the Argentine ant south of Timaru, it was on its way, Ms Smith warned. Prof Trewick said bites from the noble false widow spider would result in mild symptoms such as swelling, redness and pain. However, some had been linked to more serious effects, including tissue necrosis, nausea, hypotension, impaired mobility and secondary bacterial infections that may be resistant to standard antibiotics. "It appears to be thriving in urban environments, particularly around gardens and outdoor furniture," Prof Trewick said. "It is most often found under plant pots, tarpaulin and in fence crevices, while males are seen at night on exterior walls or the ground." Although considered less dangerous than black widows, the venom of the noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis) contained similar toxins. "Particularly concerning is its association with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Infections resulting from bites don't always respond to treatment, and that's a significant medical concern," Prof Trewick said. Originally from the Canary Islands and Madeira, the spider has become well established in Europe, North and South America and now New Zealand. While the full impact of this spider on native wildlife was yet to be fully understood, its arrival reflected broader global patterns, Prof Trewick said. "This is part of a wider pattern of biodiversity loss and rapid environmental change. Invasive species like this one highlight how globalisation and climate shifts are reshaping our ecosystems, often at the expense of native wildlife." Suspected sightings of this spider can be uploaded to iNaturalist NZ to help researchers record the extent of the invasion.
Otago Daily Times
01-07-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
'Potentially sinister' spider spreads into South Island
The noble false widow spider has officially established itself in New Zealand. Photo: Massey University Researchers are warning about the spread of a venomous spider with a "potentially sinister bite" which has officially established itself in New Zealand. The noble false widow spider has been sighted in Christchurch and Nelson after first being seen in Wellington last December. Professor Steven Trewick, an evolutionary ecologist at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, said the spider was not aggressive but may bite in self-defence. "Most bites result in mild symptoms such as swelling, redness and pain. "However, some have been linked to more serious effects including tissue necrosis, nausea, hypotension, impaired mobility and secondary bacterial infections that may be resistant to standard antibiotics." The invasive arachnid has been dubbed 'Britain's most dangerous spider' after a bite left a man struggling to walk. Prof Trewick led efforts to confirm the spider's identity by comparing its physical features and analysing DNA from a sample collected in Porirua. Since the initial Porirua sighting, the spider has also been confirmed in Christchurch, Nelson, Northland and Waikato. "It appears to be thriving in urban environments, particularly around gardens and outdoor furniture. "It is most often found under plant pots, tarpaulin and in fence crevices, while males are seen at night on exterior walls or the ground." Although considered less dangerous than black widows, the venom of the noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis) contained similar toxins. "Particularly concerning is its association with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Infections resulting from bites don't always respond to treatment, and that's a significant medical concern,' Professor Trewick said. Pest Management Association of New Zealand executive councillor Vicki Smith is yet to encounter the spider in the South Island. However, if it made its way even further south, they are well equipped to deal with it, she said. "It'd be easy. "It's only like dealing with the white-tails." Ms Smith pointed to another invasive species that appears to be making its way south, which could soon pop up in Dunedin. Although there had not been any reports of the Argentine ant south of Timaru, it was on its way, Ms Smith warned. Originally from the Canary Islands and Madeira, the spider has become well established in Europe, North and South America and now New Zealand. While the full impact of this spider on native wildlife was yet to be fully understood, Professor Trewick says its arrival reflected broader global patterns. 'This is part of a wider pattern of biodiversity loss and rapid environmental change. Invasive species like this one highlight how globalisation and climate shifts are reshaping our ecosystems, often at the expense of native wildlife.' Suspected sightings of this spider can be freely uploaded to iNaturalist NZ and help researchers discover the extent of the invasion. - APL
