As of: February 13, 2024, 5:06 a.m
By: Christoph Elzer
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It is one of the most visually impressive spiders in Central Europe and can even bite people: The Nosferatu spider is on the rise in Germany - including in Bavaria.
Munich – Wasp spiders, garden spiders and harvestmen have always been a common, if not always welcome, sight in Germany.
But now you can see the large Nosferatu spider more and more often in this country too.
A striking animal that was not native to Germany until a few years ago.
Zoropsis spinimana
originally comes
from the Mediterranean region, but probably as a result of climate change the spider is moving further and further north.
The spider owes its German name to the horror film “Nosferatu – A Symphony of Horror” from 1922. Its body is said to be reminiscent of the face of the vampire played by Max Schreck and is probably as scary to many as the silent film classic was back in the day .
As is so often the case with the Nosferatu spider, the fear is greater than the real danger.
But Zoropsis spinimana
is
not completely harmless: If the Nosferatu spider feels threatened, it can also bite people and, as one of the few native spiders, its poisonous claws can penetrate human skin in sensitive areas.
The bite then hurts similar to a bee or wasp sting, but usually heals again without any problems.
Only allergy sufferers could react more violently to the poison.
Nosferatu spider is mainly found in Bavarian cities
Since the Nosferatu spider was first detected in Germany in 2005, it has continued to spread throughout the Federal Republic.
Since then, the spider has settled in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in particular.
The
Atlas of Arachnids of Europe
shows Bavarian sightings from the last few months, particularly in the foothills of the Alps, in Munich, Augsburg and the Allgäu.
If you see it indoors, Nabu recommends staying calm, putting a glass over the spider, pushing a piece of paper or cardboard under the opening and then taking the animal outside.
The conservationists would also be pleased to receive a corresponding report on nabu-naturgucker.de.