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THE UK has more than 650 different spider species spread all over the country and while some are extremely venomous, most of them are harmless.

Here is everything you need to know about them and what to do when getting bitten.

 Cardinal spiders are pretty harmless despite their leggy appearance
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Cardinal spiders are pretty harmless despite their leggy appearance

Which UK spiders bite?

False Widow Spider

 The false widow spider has started to spread across the UK and is though of as being very dangerous, which could be giving the spider a bad reputation
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The false widow spider has started to spread across the UK and is though of as being very dangerous, which could be giving the spider a bad reputation

The venomous false widow spider is Britain's most feared spider and is normally found in the south but it's feared it may be spreading all across the UK.

These spiders are medium-sized with orange legs and cream-coloured markings on their brown bodies.

Despite being only 1cm long, false widows have a serious bite which can feel similar to a bee or wasp sting.

Their bite can result in severe reactions and complications but has never caused any deaths in the UK.

 

If a false widow bites you, you should wash the area with soap and water straight away.

If your condition deteriorates, you should go to a doctor immediately.

Woodlouse spider

 Wood Louse spider is characterised by her red colour
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Wood Louse spider is characterised by her red colour

These critters get their name from preying on woodlice.

The woodlouse spider has long red fangs designed to pierce their prey's shells and can be found all over the UK.

You'll be able to identify these spiders by their 4cm dusky pink body.

A bite from a woodlouse spider can be painful but it's believed their venom isn't all that harmful.

If you find you've been nipped you'll experience some localised pain and itchiness but no serious medical problems.

Tube web spider

 A Tube web spider also known as Segestria florentina
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A Tube web spider also known as Segestria florentina

Often found in the south of the UK, tube web spiders are 2.2cm long.

These black spiders can bite people and cause pain which lasts several hours.

Their venom causes a similar sensation to a bee sting but there aren't any lasting effects from a tube web spider's bite.

Everything you need to know about spiders

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Wasp spider

 The Wasp Spider is known for her wasp like appearance
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The Wasp Spider is known for her wasp like appearance

These critters have crawled around UK homes in the south for decades, but are now swarming upwards throughout the country.

They get their name from their wasp like appearance with yellow like stripes across their bodies.

A female may cause a shock as they can reach the size of a two-pence coin.

Wasp spiders can bite humans but there are no serious risks if you get nipped.

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Mouse spider

 Mouse Spider are not a real threat
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Mouse Spider are not a real threat

The nocturnal mouse spider can be found across the UK and is mostly seen during the autumn.

They measure at 1cm, these spiders get their name from the mouse-like hairs growing over their brown/grey bodies.

Although they do have a noticeable bite, the spiders don't pose any real threat to humans.

Cardinal spider

 A Cardinal spider can be more than 12 cm long
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A Cardinal spider can be more than 12 cm long

The cardinal spider is one of the largest house spiders in the country, as its leg span can be more than 12cm.

These spiders have a bad reputation due to their huge size and predatory night-time behaviour.

The critter has a technically venomous bite but it's rare and often painless.

These guys get a bad rep because they're so leggy, but they're pretty harmless.

The black lace-weaver spider

 Black lace-weaver spider is very venomous
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Black lace-weaver spider is very venomous

As it goes, the black lace weaver is pretty venomous.

Around 11 to 15mm and almost black, they're found across Europe all year long.

If you happen to find one, don't pick it up.

Their bite can cause pain, three days of welling and nausea.

Some other spiders which might bite you but not cause severe harm are:

How can you tell if you've been bitten by a spider?

You'll know if a spider has bitten you if you find small puncture marks on the skin.

Spider bites can cause pain, redness and swelling.

In some cases a bite might make you feel sick, dizzy or sweaty.

However, if you start to experience severe symptoms, such as unconsciousness, then you must seek medical attention immediately.

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