Are spider bites on the rise in England?

"NHS figures show that there were 100 hospital admissions in 2025 linked to spider bites - up from 47 in 2015. Experts are blaming the trend on a sharp increase in the noble false widow spider, which has been described as 'the most dangerous spider breeding in Britain.'"

"Clive Hambler, a lecturer in biological and human sciences at the University of Oxford, stated, 'I think if you were going back 50 years, then there would have been hardly any consequences from spider bites in Britain.'"

"Dr. Michel Dugon, a zoologist at the University of Galway, mentioned that the figures are 'interesting' but 'not surprising,' attributing the rise to the explosion in the population of noble false widow spiders."

Hospital admissions linked to spider bites in England have risen from 47 in 2015 to 100 in 2025. The noble false widow spider, considered the most dangerous in Britain, is largely responsible for this increase. Although these spiders are not aggressive and rarely cause serious harm, they can lead to pain and swelling. Experts suggest that increased awareness among doctors and a growing population may also contribute to the rise in admissions. The false widow spider has become more abundant, particularly in southern England, since its introduction in 1879.

Read at www.bbc.com