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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Daire Fitton Reporter & Cathal Ryan

Fear strikes Irish town after venomous spider spotted in local home

People living in the Cork town of Carrigaline have been warned after a photo emerged showing a False Widow spider in a resident's home.

The picture was posted on the Carrigaline Notice Board by a curious local who wanted to know if the species was dangerous.

However, residents quickly informed them that the species was in fact a False Widow, a spider that can be quite dangerous to humans with the bite being quite painful, Cork Beo reports.

READ MORE: Noble false widow spider 230 times more poisonous than Irish spiders and spreading fast in Ireland

Throughout recent years, sightings of the species have become more common, especially in the summer months.

Despite bites from the little critters being quite painful, hospitalisations are rare with a nip usually resulting in swelling and irritation.

Regardless of this, parents should be on the lookout for the spider as bites can be a lot worse for kids.

The female Noble False Widow (Dr John Dunbar, Venom Systems Lab, NUI Galway)

Last year a Cork mum shared her experience with the species of spider when she discovered one crawling behind her child's ear after she got a painful bite.

Sarah Jane Dennehy from Shangarry said her baby, Charlie began screaming hysterically as he was playing with toys.

Rushing over to see what was happening, she discovered the spider bite and caught her first glimpse of the False Widow crawling behind her ear.

Charlie was rushed to the hospital immediately, where he spent a total of 11 hours n the emergency room where the venom wore off.

The experience was described by his mother as "harrowing" for them both. In the aftermath, she warned other parents to be on the lookout for the arachnid.

The venomous species' population has increased notably across Ireland in recent years (RTE)

Pet owners should also be wary as it's common for False Widow spiders to bite dogs as well as other small animals.

Incidents involving pets can result in lethargy, skin irritation and loss of appetite alongside behavioural shifts.

It has been advised that if a pet is experiencing these symptoms after a bite, veterinary care should be sought immediately.

In a study last year, NUI Galway released a report on the Noble False Widow spider that warned of the dangers around Ireland's most invasive spider species.

In the study, it was found that False Widow was up to 230 times more venomous than all other native spider species.

The spider has been found to be able to kill and eat 95% of its opponents, with researchers adding that the False Widow could possibly be one of the most invasive spider species.

First discovered in Ireland in 1999, they are commonly found in homes as well as garden sheds and the False Widow population has increased notably across Ireland in recent years.

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