Webslinger vs. Dark Knight First record of a false widow spider Steatoda nobilis preying on a pipistrelle bat in Britain. Issue 2 (21st February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dunbar, John P.; Vitkauskaite, Aiste; Lawton, Colin; Waddams, Ben; Dugon, Michel M.
• Is Part Of: Ecosphere. Volume 13:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-02-21
• Subjects: false widow spider -- invasive species -- pipistrelle bat -- predation -- Steatoda nobilis -- venom -- α‐latrotoxin; Ecology -- Periodicals; Ecology; Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3959
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2150-8925

Abstract

Abstract: The noble false widow spider Steatoda nobilis continues to expand its range globally with possible implications for public health and native species. Of the European Union list of 66 species of invasive plants and animals, none are spiders. S. nobilis is invasive around the world, but its impact on native species has not been fully assessed. Here, we report on the predation of a protected species of pipistrelle bat by S. nobilis in Britain. To our knowledge, this is the first recorded case of a Theridiidae spider preying on a bat globally, the first case of a Theridiidae spider preying on a vertebrate in Britain, and the first global case of a Steatoda preying on a mammal.