Noble False Widow 230 times more poisonous than native spiders spreading in Ireland

Their venom is up to 230 times more potent than that of other species typically found in Ireland, research from NUI Galway has shown.

Scientists from the Ryan Institute at NUI Galway have demonstrated that not only is the Noble False Widow’s venom much more poisonous, but the spider “is also able to adapt its attacking behaviour to prevail in different battle scenario”.

In an attempt to find out why the species is so successful at spreading in cities and towns, the team investigated the potency of its venom and compared it with the venom of some of the native spiders it competes with for available resources.

The study demonstrated that the venom of the Noble False Widow was up to 230 times more poisonous than that of native Northern European species – according to the Ryan Institute, this may explain why these spiders can tackle a range of organisms much larger than themselves, including lizards, bats, shrews, and other spiders.

The study found that Noble False Widows make “calculated decisions on whether to attack large or small prey depending on how much venom is left in their venom glands”. If they only have a small amount of venom left, they’ll seek out smaller prey.

“Overall, the Noble False Widow spider killed and ate 95% of its opponents over the course of the study”.

The Noble False Widow is known for its medical significance, and has the ability to cause a range of mild to severe symptoms in people who are bitten.

Dr John Dunbar, co-senior author of the study said:

At every turn this species has surprised us in its ability to become globally invasive and dominate habitats it occupies. The tiniest amounts of venom – about 1,000^th of a raindrop – can cause medically significant symptoms in humans that are about 250,000 times larger than them. Each new study brings us closer to understanding how exactly they are achieving their success. 

As the season of Giant Spiders Travelling Inside To Breed Before The Winter™ is now underway, you’re encouraged to get in touch via at [email protected] to report any sightings of the Noble False Widow spider.

Header image via Shutterstock 

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