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pixie · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 1973

If you are afraid of spiders, you might want to look away now, because we could be seeing more of our arachnid friends than usual this autumn, with their numbers predicted to keep on rising.

This big fella appeared in KentA succession of mild winters saw a 200% rise in species in some parts of the country last year, and similar numbers are expected this year.

Which means huge house spiders like the one which wandered into Dan Barrett's home in Sidcup, will be all the more common.

"We found it in the kitchen on Tuesday night just before we went to bed," he said. "My wife was on the phone, and I heard her say 'Oh my God'. I came running into the kitchen and when I saw it I just stood still, I was shocked."

So was he scared? "I had to call a friend round at half past ten at night to come round and kill it, so that maybe tells you how I felt!"

And according to the experts, it's not just larger spiders we can expect to see more of, but all sizes, and species, including those not native to these shores.

The Steatoda Nobilis, or False Widow for example, originally from the Caribbean, has been surviving in the South of England for the past two decades, but there are signs it is starting to spread north.

"With climate change, if that's what we're seeing, it affects the distribution of species", said Greg Hitchcock from the conservation group Buglife. "It means that if species are introduced from warmer countries through container transport, for example, they are more likely to survive."

The problem with some of these exotic spiders is that they can attack when under threat.

"The False Widow does have a potentially painful bite," says Greg. "If they feel threatened or are half squashed they might bite, but bite reports are quite rare, and it doesn't kill people."

If you are afraid of spiders, however, that is likely to be of little comfort. You may just have to get used to the view from the top of the kitchen chair.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1283113,00.html

Rabid · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:38 pm Post subject:

Ugh, spiders...........

I hate them, lots.

.

barbsy · Super Member Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 570

i feel all creepy crawly just thinking of em. urg. barbs