I don’t like spiders much. However, I am willing to coexist with them in the same household as long as they don’t invade my space. Ordinary spiders don’t bother me, but I’m more cautious when it comes to larger pieces or exotic species. I certainly don’t voluntarily touch them. There are several reasons. It would be uncomfortable for me to touch them, and I only know a few species of spiders. So I can’t be sure if it’s a venomous species.

Nosferatu spider

The so-called Nosferatu spider has recently arrived in Germany. The hairy creature, which has been spreading across Germany, has become virtually domesticated in the country. If this spider bites you, it can chew through your skin. But it’s certainly not dangerous. According to the German Association for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, its bite is comparable to a wasp sting. So it may frighten you, but it’s nothing serious. Moreover, this spider will only attack you if it feels threatened. In other words: It’s more afraid of you than you are of it. But now another spider has begun to spread in the country.

A new spider is spreading across Germany.

Yes, we practically live in Midwestern Europe, but even here, spiders that didn’t live here before are already appearing. Spiders whose bites can cause significant problems for humans. In fact, a new venomous spider has reportedly been spotted in Germany. It belongs to the genus Loxosceles and has only been found in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, it’s one of the few spiders that has a toxic venom and a bite can lead to skin necrosis or tissue death. In some cases, the bite can even be fatal.

━━ ( Source: Timothy Dykes /  Unsplash+ )

Consequences of bites in the world

A teenager in Ibiza lost a finger after being bitten by this spider while watching the sunset. In the USA, a child even died from the bite. Unfortunately, doctors did not take the venomous spider of the genus Loxosceles into account when making the diagnosis. However, there’s no need to panic. The spider may be spreading across Germany, but it certainly doesn’t seek proximity to humans. So it shouldn’t happen to show up on your doorstep. It won’t frighten you by its size. It’s quite small.

When they bite

Spiders of the genus Loxosceles only bite when they feel extremely threatened. Only, of course, it can happen very quickly. The problem can arise especially when you don’t notice. The bite of a Loxosceles spider is like a mosquito bite – and unlike the bite of the world’s most dangerous spider, no one notices it at first. This can be a problem because spider venom contains, among other things, the protein toxin sphingomyelinase D, which can cause skin necrosis or, in adverse cases, haemolysis with acute kidney failure.

Therefore, if you even suspect that you have been bitten by a spider, it is better to intervene immediately. It is better to make a mistake and get early treatment than to arrive at the doctor too late. The obvious symptoms of a Loxosceles spider bite include severe pain, swelling and blue discoloration of the skin after two to eight hours. A pimple or redness may also appear. The next day, bones, muscles and joints start to ache, and fever and chills may develop. Scarring of the tissue is a common and unpleasant consequence. After two to three days, acute renal failure and death may occur. I don’t know about you, but I definitely don’t want this kind of spider as a neighbor.