The Noble False Widow spider is here to stay - here's what to know if you get a bite

The head of the Venom Systems Laboratory at NUIG has said the Noble False Widow spider species is here to stay in Ireland and we must learn how to live with them.

Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dr Michel Dugon said that people can capture the spider and throw it out away from the house.

If there is a sizeable false widow population in your area, he said, then people should shake their clothes before putting them on.

"Most people who get bitten get bitten either in their bed, while in their sleep, or while putting their clothes on in the morning."

Ongoing research has found that the species has become increasingly prevalent and found it can deliver bites that may require hospital treatment.

Dr Michel Dugon, has also advised what to expect in the event of a bite: "False widow bites are generally not severe (but not pleasant) and limited to some moderate pain, swelling, and redness around the bite. The symptoms last anywhere from 2 to 48 hours.

"In some rare cases, victims start to develop a neurotoxic syndrome called Steatodism. This is characterised by intense pain, some cramping, headache, fever, sweat and chills and a general feeling of being 'unwell'.

"When this happens, victims need to go to a GP or contact the emergency services if they feel faint. In extremely rare cases (a handful were recorded so far over the past 10 years), patients develop swelling, intense pain, blistering of the skin and bacterial infections which must be treated in a hospital set-up.

"Overall, it is a little bit like with honeybees: they are not much of a problem for most people, but some people are more sensitive to their venom than others."

He said that, as False Widows were invasive, killing them is not an issue from an ecological point of view.

The lifespan of most native Irish spiders is 1-2 years, whereas the lifespan of the Noble False Widow is 5-7 years.