Sightings of one of the world's most feared spiders are increasing in Dubai, according to a leading expert in the UAE.
A creature that looks very similar to the venomous redback spider, which is native to Australia, has been spotted several times in recent months across the emirate in The Greens, The Springs and the Mira community on Al Qudra Road.
There is no definitive evidence that this is the same species as the Australian redback, and it could be one of three other species that look almost identical.
"With the UAE importing as much produce as it does, especially from Australia, it would be unreasonable to believe the Australian redback does not occur here," said ecologist and Dubai resident Adrian Hudson.
The expert said it was easy to explain the increase in sightings of the redback – which belongs to the Latrodectus family of spiders – because they are breeding and colonising new areas.
While many people believe redbacks' venom to be potentially fatal, their fearsome reputation as killers is exaggerated.
"There is an incorrect impression that if you are bitten by a redback spider then you will die," Mr Hudson said.
“That’s actually not the case at all. I have been in contact with colleagues about this and there hasn’t been a recorded death from a redback bite since the 1950s.
"Modern medicine means it is unlikely a bite from a Latrodectus spider will kill you."
He said that while data for spider bites in the UAE was unavailable, there were many global examples that proved a Latrodectus spider bite was not likely to be fatal, including in South Africa where hundreds of incidents are reported as mildly symptomatic.
Widow spider bites unlikely to cause death
Several thousand black widow bites are reported in the US States each year, while the Australian Museum said more than 2,000 people were bitten on average each year by the redback.
The museum said redback bites were more likely during the summer, with early symptoms including pain, which can become severe, muscular weakness, nausea and vomiting.
An antivenom is available and no deaths have been recorded since its introduction in 1956.
Given the physical similarity between redbacks and related species known as widow spiders, and the huge amount of produce imported into the UAE, Mr Hudson said it would not be unreasonable to presume other species of widow spider are in the UAE.
But he did offer some words of comfort to Dubai residents with arachnophobia.
"To get bitten by a redback you would literally have to go and stick your finger into its web and touch it before it will bite. They are normally shy and reclusive and remain in the web from its construction until they die, unless forced to move," he said.
“The only time see you will see them move is during dispersal when the youngsters start moving away from the adult’s nest.”
Physical reaction to bites
A doctor in Dubai said requiring hospital attention for spider bites in the UAE was extremely rare and she had not come across any cases in her practice.
"Most spider bites will have little effect on people but some species can on occasion cause a reaction due to the venom injected," said Dr Shilpa Murthy, general practitioner at Aster Clinic, Arabian Ranches.
"Bites may result in localised pain, tingling and small swelling around the bite.
“Occasionally more serious symptoms can occur but are usually an exceptional reaction of the individual to the spider’s venom," she said.
After this a weal could develop, typically taking the form of raised red, itchy and irritated skin, which could take eight weeks to heal.
She said pain and numbness at the site of the bite could be followed by sweating and nausea, lasting up to 24 hours.
If the pain did not subside by that stage, she recommended washing the bite and placing ice packs on it, before travelling to hospital.
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