Australian house spider settles in the Netherlands

The Australian house spider is making the Netherlands its new home. The EIS Knowledge Center for Insects reported on Saturday that more and more Australian house spiders are being spotted in the country. According to biologist Jinze Noordijk from the Knowledge Center, there have only been a few sightings so far.

As its name suggests, the Australian house spider originates from Australia. The exotic spider has also established itself in North America, New Zealand, South Africa, and several other South American countries. The Australian house spider was first spotted in Europe in 2010. Since then, the spider has settled in several places in the United Kingdom and has also been spotted in Germany.

In the Netherlands, the spider has been spotted in Zevenhoven in October 2021, a garden center in Almere in 2022, and an industrial area in Uithoorn, according to Nature Today. This summer, a specimen was also spotted at a plant trading company in Ede.

The EIS Knowledge Center assumes that the spider species will continue to spread and become established in the Netherlands soon. To keep up with these advances, the Knowledge Center is asking the public to keep an eye out for exotic spiders and to pass on any observations.

The Australian house spider is recognizable by the characteristic drawing on the upper side of its body. It is a few centimeters long and is often found in bushes or behind tree bark in urban areas and around buildings.