Lanzarote Information

I wondered whether to write this post or not after reading the Sky News article concerning Lyn Mitchell who became critically ill after being bitten by a spider that originated in the Canary Islands. The article explained that Lyn became ill after being bitten by a spider whilst in bed at her home in Egremont, West Cumbria. Lyn was rushed to hospital after suffering a serious allergic reaction to the spider bite, she says:

"I jumped out of bed, pulled the duvet and sheets back and saw a spider running over the other side. It was only tiny, black and shiny, and it ran so quickly. When I looked down I noticed two little pin marks on my chest."

The reported case is interesting as previously the spider has only been reported in Devon, Dorset and Cornwall, experts are saying the spider is able to migrate further in the UK due to the warmer winters and sightings have been recorded in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

I decided to look for the truth about false widow spiders and found an article on the Natural History Museum website, here are some extracts from their information.

What's the likelihood of being bitten by a false widow spider? …..Extremely low

No one has ever died of a spider bite in the UK and the number of reported bites from spiders in general is minimal. The Natural History Museum's Insect Information Service (IIS) hears of about 10 cases of spider bites each year in the UK. People also bring in specimens for identification. 'Most turn out to be Steatoda grossa (false widow spider species - native to the UK), though we have received 10 confirmed bite reports from Steatoda nobilis (false widow spider species) over the last 8 years.'

The false widow spiders belong to the genus, or group, called Steatoda . There are six species of Steatoda found in the UK including one introduced species, Steatoda nobilis . This group of spiders get their name because they look similar to the true black widow group of spiders, genus Latrodectus - but this species is not found in the UK. The false widow spider Steatoda nobilis has a tangled web like other members of the Theridiidae family of spiders. These are the comb-footed spiders that have rows of tiny bristles on the tip of their hind legs they use to spread out their silk. They make similar 'tangle' webs.

The noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis)

One species of false widow spider, Steatoda nobilis , appears to be the UK's most venomous spider. This species came from the Canary and Madeira Islands over a 100 years ago. It has been established in Devon for a long time but in recent years has been spreading along the south and east of England and is likely to spread northwards in years to come. This spider has a brown bulbous abdomen with pale markings and the females grow to 15mm. They live in walls, fences and the barks of trees and eat insects, other invertebrates and even other spiders.

Spider bite symptoms

The severity of symptoms from any spider bite depends on the amount of venom that is injected. Only the female of the false widow spider bites (pictured left). The bite itself is not usually felt but, within a short space of time, a local burning sensation is followed by radiating pain described as:

“far more severe than a bee or wasp sting”

"Sudden onset of intense pain, radiating across thigh. Lasted 20 minutes with some swelling and a developing weal."

"Bitten on left hand; within 3/4 hour developed swelling of palm including thumb and fingers with tingling in all fingers. Swelling on left side of face with tingling over face. Two small puncture wounds in the region of the swelling, surrounded by local erythema with small bluish tinge a few hours later."

"Bite on arm (area red) immediate pain. Spread to chest - still stiff 48 hours later."

"Burning sensation on the right side of ribs. Increased in intensity, like being scalded, stabbing pains spread first to armpit then down right arm. Also flu-like symptoms, aches, sweats, fatigue, perspiring, cold & shaky, sick & giddy (all in first 10 minutes). Face and right arm went purplish and slightly puffy. Bite mark raised with red area c. 5 or 6cm. After one hour, responded to Piriton but felt unwell for 3 days."

"Bitten on the shoulder. Initially the top of my arm ached, then felt itchy. Ten minutes later my armpit became numb. The skin was hot and sticky and looked wrinkled. The tenderness and itchiness lasted for some days" (later said to be infected).

The Spanish newspaper ABC published an article Es Canaria y le teme Inglaterra about the spider written by Bernado Sagastume in 2006. Local Canarian biologist, Antonio Machado whose work has been to classify “bugs” from the Canary Islands disputes the facts, translated he says "It is probable that they are from here, although they could also come from Madeira, as ships in those days called at both archipelagos". He does not believe the banana was to blame for the introduction of the spider, he says that "there are spiders in plantations, but they are not the ones that bite." Antonio also believes that the spider is not native or endemic to the Canary Islands and was probably introduced here too.

In summary, the spider was first recorded in the UK in 1879 was not considered to be established until the 1980’s in the UK and with the warmer climate it is slowly spreading North in the UK. In the UK there have been 10 reported cases of bites from this spider over an 8 year period, so its very unlikely that you will be bitten by one there for the time being although they are on the increase with the warmer winters.

I hesitated to write this post as people are afraid of spiders anyway without having biting ones, but having lived here for nearly a decade – I’ve not seen one or heard of anyone bitten from a spider in Lanzarote – the fact is that we see very few spiders around, you are much more likely to experience a cockroach, black beetle or tiny mouse in and around your property.

Do let me know in comments if you have seen or experienced one of these spiders in Lanzarote!