Black widow spiders accidentally brought to Britain in consignments of fruit could soon establish colonies as the climate becomes milder, experts have warned. Some fear it is only a "matter of time" before the venomous American arachnid follows other exotic species of spider and establishes itself in Britain as climate change makes the country warmer. The warning comes amid calls from conservationists for import rules to be tightened up to prevent more and more non-native species being inadvertently introduced to the country and altering the eco-system. Recent years have seen a raft of reports of "black widows" being spotted in bunches of bananas and other fruit by members of the public. Many such sightings are thought to have been the so-called "false widow" - steatoda paykulliana, a spider from southern Europe which closely resembles the black widow.
Some fear it is only a "matter of time" before the venomous American arachnid follows other exotic species of spider and establishes itself in Britain as climate change makes the country warmer.
The warning comes amid calls from conservationists for import rules to be tightened up to prevent more and more non-native species being inadvertently introduced to the country and altering the eco-system.
Recent years have seen a raft of reports of "black widows" being spotted in bunches of bananas and other fruit by members of the public.
Many such sightings are thought to have been the so-called "false widow" - steatoda paykulliana, a spider from southern Europe which closely resembles the black widow.
