Noble False Widow Spider Devours Pygmy Shrew: First-Ever UK Sighting Shocks Researchers

Noble False Widow Spider Preys on Pygmy Shrew in Unprecedented Observation

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have documented a noble false widow spider (Steatoda nobilis) preying on a pygmy shrew in southern England, challenging previous assumptions about the arachnid’s dietary habits. The incident, observed outside a bedroom window in Chichester, marks the first recorded instance of a Theridiidae family member consuming a shrew in Ireland or Britain.

The female noble false widow, measuring just 1.4 cm in length, successfully subdued and consumed a pygmy shrew approximately 5 cm long and weighing ten times more than the spider. This remarkable feat was captured on video, providing valuable insights into the spider’s hunting techniques and capabilities.

Dr. John Dunbar, lead researcher from the Venom Systems Lab at the National University of Ireland Galway, explained, “The noble false widow employed a combination of potent venom and strong silk to overcome its much larger prey. This behavior demonstrates the spider’s complex hunting strategy and its ability to take down vertebrates significantly larger than itself.”

The predation process, lasting several days, involved the spider paralyzing the shrew with its neurotoxic venom, hoisting it into the rafters over 20 minutes, and then feeding on it for three days before discarding the remains.

This observation has significant implications for understanding the ecological impact of the noble false widow, an invasive species native to Madeira and the Canary Islands but now established in several regions, including the UK. While often sensationalized in media reports, experts emphasize that the spider poses minimal risk to humans, with bites described as painful but not life-threatening.

Dr. Michel Dugon, senior author of the study published in Ecosphere, stressed the importance of further research: “Understanding the noble false widow’s impact on local ecosystems is crucial. We encourage public contributions to our ongoing studies to better assess its interactions with native wildlife.”

As researchers continue to investigate the noble false widow’s role in its adopted habitats, this unprecedented observation underscores the complexity of predator-prey relationships and the potential for invasive species to adapt to new environments in surprising ways.