A person has been bitten a whole lot of occasions in his sleep by false widow spiders which can be infesting his condominium.

Russell Davies, 55, who lives in Kent in southeast England, advised the BBC that he has now been sleeping in a tent for weeks to flee the spiders.

He advised the broadcaster that the bites really feel like there are "shards of glass" in "each half" of his physique.

Davies, who was homeless, observed the bites inside per week of shifting into the condominium, however he solely realized what was making them 15 months into his keep, the BBC reported. By then, he mentioned he had been serving as an "all you possibly can eat banquet" for the spiders whereas he slept.

"My physique began to get bites, after which splits on my chest and my arms..." he mentioned.

He mentioned the bites look "virtually like lesions."

Regardless of him making an attempt to do away with the spiders himself, Davies mentioned there isn't any means of realizing if he has "acquired all of them."

"My thoughts is consistently on edge as a result of I am on the lookout for an internet, spiders. I do not need to reside like this," he advised the broadcaster.

Invasive species

The false widow spider is an invasive species within the U.Okay. It has now been there for over 140 years, and has change into extra widespread lately because of milder climate.

The spiders can enter buildings unintentionally and infrequently lurk in cracks and crevices. Scientists have expressed concern that in the event that they proceed to increase, they may finally pose a risk to native wildlife. Feminine false widow spiders lay egg sacs from Could to July, often laying three or extra sacs that comprise over 200 eggs every.

The spider is usually mistaken for the notorious black widow spider because it's related in look. Whereas its venom is not as potent because the black widow's, the spiders have a robust chew which were likened to feeling like a wasp sting. They often solely chew after they really feel threatened, which means human bites are comparatively uncommon.

Davies mentioned the housing affiliation that owns his condominium has refused to prepare pest management to do away with the infestation.

A Clarion Housing Affiliation spokesperson advised the BBC that whereas the infestation is "disagreeable and inconvenient," Davies has been suggested how he can resolve the problem. The Affiliation's pest management providers are solely licensed to fumigate communal areas, the spokesperson mentioned.

Davies advised the BBC that the state of affairs has been "scary" for him as he's always considering of being bitten by the spiders in his sleep. The ache of the bites has additionally prevented Davies from working, the BBC reported.

Newsweek has contacted Davies and the Clarion Housing Affiliation for remark.

False widow spider
A file photograph of a false widow spider, an invasive species to the U.Okay. Steve_Hardiman/Getty Photos