There have been various reports of noble false widow spiders (Steatoda nobilis) across Rishton. This particular variety of spider came to England in the late 1800s on banana boats and has been gradually migrating north in recent years due to a run of mild winters. They have been established in Devon for a long time and the Natural History Museum only hears of around 10 bites per year in the UK. The severity of symptoms from any spider bite depends on the amount of venom that is injected. False widow spider bite reports include symptoms such as chest pains, swelling and tingling of fingers.
Although the spider is venomous, its bite has never proved fatal to humans and no one has ever been known to die from a spider bite in England. The noble false widow spiders belong to the genus called Steatoda and has a tangled web like other members of the Theridiidae family of spiders. 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.
The Wikipedia entry can be found here:
Wikipedia - Steatoda nobilis
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