UK residents are being advised to keep windows closed this month due to a rise in activity from the False Widow spider, the country's most venomous native species.
During its August mating season, male spiders venture from their webs and often find their way indoors through open windows and cracks. While their bites are not fatal, experts like Dr. Tom Elwood confirm they are painful—often compared to a wasp sting—and can cause severe swelling, fever, and burning pain in some cases.
To prevent encounters, homeowners should keep windows shut, regularly clean away webs from frames, and seal any cracks around doors and pipes.
