ARACHNAGEDDON
Terrifying new species of African widow spider that lays up to 900 eggs at a time could be among world’s DEADLIEST
The Phinda Button Spider is a close relative of the famous Black Widow and is thought to be just as venomous
A NEW species of the widow spider has been discovered by scientists in Africa – and it may be deadliest in the world.
The Phinda button spider, which is the first widow to be discovered for 28 years, is closely related to the much-feared black widow.
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And Barbara Wright, who discovered the new species, thinks its bite will pack the same punch as that of its famous cousin, requiring hospital treatment.
She said: “Although we still haven't done the toxicology on this species, all widow spiders (genus Latrodectus) are considered medically important due to their potent neurotoxic venom.
“The effects of the venom on human beings may include pain, palpitation, sweating and vomiting.”
Previously-discovered species of widow spider make up three of the world’s nine deadliest spiders, as listed by the Encyclopædia Britannica.
Yet in truth, Latrodectus bites rarely result in death – and the same will likely be true of the new species.
LARGEST WIDOW SPIDER IN AFRICA
“Bites are rarely fatal,” said Wright. “And our new species is extremely shy, reclusive, and docile.
“There have been no records of anyone being bitten. In a year I had over 5,000 of them in my home with my family and we were always safe.”
The Phinda button is native to the critically-endangered sand forests of South Africa and could be the largest widow spider in the world – it is certainly the largest in Africa.
It can be told apart from other spiders of its type because the female has bright red markings on both her back and her underbelly, instead of having them in one place or the other.
In the arachniverse, this is a big discovery
Barbara Wright
The spider also creates a unique purple-coloured egg sac, each holding roughly 600 hatchlings.
"In the arachniverse, this is a big discovery,” said Wright, an entomologist with the Wild Tomorrow Fund, a conservationist charity.
"To find a new species of widow spider in a critically-endangered habitat really highlights the importance of its protection.
“The Phinda Button spider is a red flag to raise awareness of the importance of habitat protection.”
Dr Ian Engelbrecht, an arachnid expert at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, who helped Wright confirm the species was new, called the discovery “spectacular”.
"When Barbara showed me the first photo, I literally could not believe this spider existed and that it was unknown to science" he said.
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"Discovering a new species is always exciting, but the feeling of finding something so spectacular and unique is indescribable.
“Widow and button spiders are medically important for humans, so it's important to understand their diversity."
The UK’s notorious false widow spider, which is named for its resemblance to the black widow, is not actually part of the same family, though it too has been blamed for painful bites on humans.
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