Beyond the false widow: seven creepy crawlies for a warmer world

The false widow is old news. Here is RTCC’s selection of creatures you should be worried about as the world warms up

By Sophie Yeo

False widow spiders are the new UK media darlings of the insect world.

The little monsters have caused chaos this year, as a warming climate allows them to spread across the country.

Some of the heinous crimes the spiders are said to have perpetrated so far include putting a grandmother into a coma, killing a beloved family rabbit, and trespassing into the private property of a Big Brother contestant.

But the truth is much more mundane, claims Steven Falk, an invertebrate specialist at Buglife, who called the frenzy “one of the worst hypes I’ve seen in many, many years.”

Yet he quickly negates his reassuring message. While the so-called “killer spiders” may not be the doom of mankind just yet, the spread of undesirable species due to climate change is a real problem, and one that will create challenges across the globe – not just for reality TV show stars, but for human health, conservation, and agriculture.

“In many ways, they’re some of the most honest indicators of climate change,” says Falk. “There are so many ways you can measure climate change and some people can say ‘This technique isn’t legitimate,’ but the insects just get on with it.

“It’s wonderful, almost like an independent arbitration of climate change.”

So what to panic about once the false widow hysteria has died down? Here’s a selection of nasty creatures that will take some serious swatting as we face a warmer world.

1. Asian needle ant (Pachycondyla chinensis)

The Asian needle ant is no longer confined to Asia. A recent study found that, by 2080, roughly 65% of the planet will provide a suitable habitat for this climate sensitive bug. Infestations could spread across parts of Europe, South America and North America. The ant’s venomous sting can cause severe allergic reactions, along with pain and itchiness lasting up to two weeks.

2. Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus)

Another oriental invader, this mosquito is poised to cause havoc in the north east of the USA, where the number of people affected by infestations is expected to double by the end of the century, encompassing all major urban centres and placing over 30 million people at risk. The mosquito has a particularly villainous streak, as it prefers to live in human-occupied areas, rather than wetlands, and transmits viruses such as the Yellow fever virus, dengue fever and Chikungunya fever.

3. Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria)

With climate change expected to cause an increase in floods and droughts, plagues of desert locusts could be a feature of a warmer future. It may all sound a bit Old Testament Egypt, but it will cause a very modern problem. One tonne of desert locusts – a small fraction of an average swarm – can eat the same amount of food in a single day as 2,500 people. This has obvious implications for crop production and therefore food security.

4. Bee wolf (Philanthus triangulum)

It’s bad news for honeybees. Once considered rare in the UK, appearing only on the south coast, this bee-hunting wasp has now spread as far north as Yorkshire. The females are the killers. They will capture and paralyse the honeybee, before dragging it back to the nest. After the wasp has collected about five bees, she will lay an egg on one of them, which provides a delicious dinner for the new-born after it emerges.

5. Irukandji jellyfish

Barely visible but extremely venomous, the irukandji jellyfish bobs spitefully of the coast of northern Queensland in Australia. Although it is only 2cm big, its sting can cause vomiting, sweating, severe pain and even death. Higher sea temperatures mean these marine fiends are migrating southwards the poles, a recent study suggested. If the jellyfish reach south-east Queensland waters, it could have a severe impact on both local tourism and human health.

6. Pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa)

Until recently, the pine processionary moth was only found in the Mediterranean region, North Africa and some areas of the Middle East and southern Europe. But since the 1990s, the bug has been marching northwards through France, and is now breeding near Paris. The larvae feed on needles of pine trees, causing them to weaken. Humans are also at risk: the caterpillars are covered in thousands of hairs, which can cause irritation and allergic reactions if they come into contact with skin.

7. Brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa)

The brown recluse spider is set to become considerably less reclusive as the world warms. Emerging from its awkward teenage years, the spider will scuttle northwards through America to previously unaffected regions, including Nebraska, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania. It injects powerful venom that kills tissue at the side of the bite, leading to painful sores, yet these are not always easy to diagnose. Bites are often confused with other serious conditions, such as Lyme disease and cancer.