Love spiders? According to the EIS Insect Information Centre, we have recently discovered a new species in the Netherlands: the Australian house spider.
Only a few specimens have been observed so far, but the Australian eight-legged animal is expected to feel at home here and its numbers will increase. How did it end up in the Netherlands, and is it dangerous?
How does an Australian house spider end up in the Netherlands?
Australian house spider (Padumna longinqua) It was originally found in eastern Australia, but has also established itself in New Zealand, the United States, South Africa, England, Germany and now also the Netherlands. Because the spider is fond of plants, it is thought to have spread through the plant trade.
In 2021, the Australian house spider was spotted for the first time in Zevenhoven. Later, the eight-legged animal and its distinctive webs – not orbital webs, but silk threads that intersect with each other – were also spotted at plant vendors in Almere and Ede and in an industrial area in Uthorn.
In early 2024, the Animal Pest Knowledge and Advice Centre reported the arrival of Australian house spiders with a container full of animal feed ingredients. The spider is expected to spread further across the country. However, the Australian house spider has not yet been classified as an invasive alien species, as it is unclear what impact its presence will have on other spider species.
Is the Australian house spider venomous?
When you think of spiders in Australia, you quickly think of large or (very) venomous creatures, such as the black widow, one of the deadliest spiders in the world. But the fact that we don’t need to worry about all spiders is proven by, among others, the Huntsman spider, a popular housemate in Australia.
The male Australian house spider is no more than 1.1 cm long, while the female is about 1.5 cm long. This means that the spider, just like the strange false wolf spider, is quite large. But unlike some other spiders from its homeland, the Australian house spider is not venomous or dangerous to humans.
You can recognize the Australian house spider by the distinctive markings on its abdomen, but especially by its zigzag webs in shrubs or around buildings. Have you seen the spider yet?
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Esme Van Dyke is an editor for National Geographic, Historia, and Traveler. With a love for history and culture, she loves to travel the world both physically and mentally. At the top of her bucket list is a tour of Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, where she hopes to finally see her favorite artists in real life.
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