Factfile: How to identify a false widow spider

A school in Gloucestershire has been forced to close due to an outbreak of false widow spiders.

ITV News Westcountry has provided some information on how to identify a false widow.

• False widow spiders have a large body, dark brown in colour, ranging from 7mm up to 14mm
• The body of the spider has a glossy appearance, with a white pattern on the top
• This kind of spider can generally be found in dry and undisturbed environments, like sheds and outbuildings

• They are often active at night, and mainly hidden throughout the day, and there is likely to be more than one living in the same place

Source: Natural History Museum

Click here to read more about false widow spiders, and what to do when they bite.