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.
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