[Scarlett.]

New and unusual insects are making their way over to the UK and surviving in our increasingly mild climate.

Tarantulas and other creepy crawlies that might usually have died after arriving here on consignments of fruit are now coping with our climate and making their home here.

Insects play an important part in our ecosystem by pollinating much of our countryside and providing an essential food source for birds and mammals. But conservationists are worried that the new and more deadly foreign species will soon start to out-compete our existing native species.





Wasp Spider

Thought to have arrived in the UK from Europe, the wasp spider has originally been restricted to southern areas of Britain. But milder climates have seen it spread northwards and there have been reported sightings in Cambridge.

They live in long grass and low vegetation and feed on flying insects, grasshoppers and beetles. They kill their prey by wrapping them in their silk and poisoning them.




Tarantula

Sightings of tarantulas are a fairly common occurrence in the UK now but they are not yet known to be colonising here. However, conservationists are beginning to worry that eventually some species could start reproducing and multiplying here.

While usually not dangerous to humans they are to other insects and could eventually wipe out some of our native insects.




Sightings of the deadly black widow spider in the UK are currently still extremely rare. Although its bite is not usually fatal to humans, the spider is still not something you would want to find in your back garden.

The black widow variety, pictured above, refers to North American species, best known for their dark coloration and red hourglass pattern. One other fact that might put you off them, black widows are known to eat their mate.





And finally, one of our own very unusual insects that is going in the opposite direction, namely extinction.

It is not difficult to see why this spider is called a Ladybird spider. The male spider has a red spotted abdomen, while the female is significantly bigger and black in colour.

Sadly, the spider is incredibly rare, in fact it is the rarest spider in Britain and is officially listed as endangered and protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. "The extinction of this beautiful spider would be a tragic loss to the UK's wildlife," say conservation group Buglife.


MSN.co.uk

[Callum]

I hate spiders!

[Scarlett.]

So do I

I cant belive Turantula's are actually commonplace now

[Novo]

this is great news

tarantula's are harmless really

[Spike]

I think if any of those came anywhere near me it would frighten me so much that I probably would die

[Scarlett.]

The ladybird one is dead creepy

[Callum]

They all scare me, I keep on thinking there's a spider by me now.

[SiaSiaSia]

I was actually going to post a thread to say "why is everyone going on about spiders this year? they seem to be like, invading"
luckily i saw this.
I'M ACTUALLY SCARED

[Indierock&roll]

omg id have a heart attack if i saw a tranatula

[SiaSiaSia]

and black widow spiders are dangerous to young children and older people actually

x

[Scarlett.]

Originally posted by SiaSiaSia
and black widow spiders are dangerous to young children and older people actually

x

Aye, plus they hide in shoes and stuff

[Xander]

That Ladybird one is HUUUUUGGEEE!

It won't happen for a long time though.

[bronaaaa]

Originally posted by Callum
I hate spiders!

[go.Rachel.go]

Originally posted by andy-dale-win
this is great news

tarantula's are harmless really

No they are not, they can bite you.

[BigOz]

If you "attack" them, I heard that if you're careful enough, they won't do anything, they just defend themselves.

[Annie]

Originally posted by Chewy

Aye, plus they hide in shoes and stuff

Haha I actually laughed so much at this! They are dangerous to young child and the eldery! and your like aye they can hide in your shoes and stuff! hahahahaha

God i love you

Thanks for cheering me up..





oh but also - i dont want them. lets all move to somewhere really cold