Some victims of these spider bites in Ireland have experienced tremors, reduced or elevated blood pressure, nausea and impaired mobility.
In rare circumstances, victims have developed minor wounds at the bite site or had to be treated for severe bacterial infections.
The senior author of the study Michel Dugon said: “In addition to their medically significant venom, noble false widows [steatoda nobilis] are extremely adaptable and competitive in the wild.
“Originating from Madeira and the Canary Islands, it now has the potential to become one of the world’s most invasive species of spider.”
