Ireland has already conquered the "false widow" Steatoda nobilis. Now, researchers are painting a gloomy poison bite scenario in parts of Germany for noble ball spiders.
It took 23 years. From the first sighting to the takeover of Ireland. For Great Britain, the noble ball spider, known as the "False Widow", took even longer. But the invasive "Steatoda nobilis" is now spreading rapidly – and regularly causes shock reports in the British Isles. Because it not only destroys ecosystems, but also endangers people. Probably the greatest expert on this spider species paints a gloomy scenario for echo24.de – for Germany.
Dr. Michel Dugon from the National University of Ireland (NUI) has dedicated himself to the noble ball spider known as the "False Widow". And the studies of his team in the British Isles are shocking. Because Steatoda nobilis is not afraid of native spiders or mammals. On the contrary, the eight-legged friend incorporates both protected pygmy bats and shrews. And it can mark people with its bacterial venomous bites – up to and including amputations.
| Kind | Noble ball spider (Steatoda nobilis) |
| Origin | Madeira/Canary Islands |
| First detection in Germany | 2011 in a garden centre in Cologne |
| Food | Arthropods, but also increasingly small mammals |
| Bite danger for humans | Infections that can lead to amputations of affected limbs |
"False widow" conquers Germany – established populations in two garden centres in Cologne
There is no great talk in Germany of the emergence of the noble ball spider, known as the "False Widow". Although the neozoa has long since arrived – and is forming populations. A research article by the State Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe (SMNK) from 2019 confirms this. Since its first sighting on October 10, 2011 in a large garden center in the west of Cologne - the population of Steatoda nobilis, which spreads by plant imports, has increased there.
A month later, the noble ball spider, known as the "False Widow", was also discovered in a second garden centre in Cologne. The research paper "Steatoda nobilis, a false widow on the rise" of the SMNK states: "During each visit in the following years, several specimens and/or intact nets could be observed. At both sites, the species inhabited the aluminum window profiles." In addition, young animals were often observed on potted plants that could be purchased.
"False widow" also spotted in Stuttgart – researchers see suitable habitats in Germany
Since 2014, the "false widow" species Steatoda nobilis seems to have been "colonizing the outer walls of buildings and bushes in the parking lot" at the first garden center in Cologne, according to the SMNK research work. At the second garden centre, the researchers find the animals "on shelves in the outdoor area as well as on an outdoor wall with common ivy". However, it is not known whether these are permanent settlements. However, the researchers also find individual noble ball spiders - but no established populations - elsewhere in Germany:
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My Area
- 2013 in a garden centre in Balingen
- 2013 in a garden center in Brandenburg
- 2013 in a flower wholesaler in Berlin
- 2018 on the wall of a garden center in Stuttgart
At the moment, the noble ball spiders, known as "false widows", only appear in Germany in the immediate vicinity of garden centres. Unlike Ireland and Great Britain. NUI expert Dr. Michel Dugon explains to echo24.de: "In our country, they seem to be found only in urban and suburban habitats and are completely absent in natural habitats such as forests, bogs or coastal cliffs." An encounter with people is therefore inevitable. Especially since in the colder months, according to "falsewidowspiderireland.ie", they "venture into the warmth of the sleeping and living areas".
In Ireland, 88 percent of "false widows" victims become victims in bed or while dressing, because the non-aggressive eight-legged friends resist possible crushing. Could this also happen in Germany in the foreseeable future? Dr. Michel Dugon refers to the SMNK researchers: "The authors have modelled where Steatoda nobilis could establish itself in the future, and a large part of western and northern Germany seems to offer suitable climatic conditions or habitats."
This is what makes the bite of the "false widow" Steatoda nobilis so dangerous
It is not the paralyzing neurotoxin alpha-latrotoxin (66 percent as strong as that of real widows - for example, the red-backed spider) that makes the bite of noble ball spiders so dangerous for humans, but the cocktail of bacteria on their biting tools. The Irish NUI researchers led by Dr. Michel Dugon were able to identify 22 species. And twelve of them are potentially pathogenic for humans. Some of them are multidrug-resistant, making them very difficult to treat with regular medications. In addition, most doctors in Europe still know too little about invasive venomous spiders, their bites and their treatment.
