Alert in France: World's most dangerous animal has reappeared
On October 27, 2023, the European black widow was discovered for the first time in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (south-west France) by amateur entomologist Christian Géry.
Christian Géry, who specializes in the study of insects, had originally gone on an expedition to Cap-Ferret to observe beetles. The European black widow had not been detected in the region since 1881. As reported by the Aquitaine Online, its presence in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region opens up new perspectives not only on migration, but also on the adaptation of species in response to potential environmental and climatic changes.
Adaptation and survival
While the European black widow is associated with Mediterranean climates, preferring to live in Corsica or the Mediterranean arc, its discovery in a dune environment calls into question its ability to survive in unfamiliar and more difficult conditions.
It also raises questions about human intervention in fragile ecosystems. The site must therefore be protected at all costs, not only to preserve the European black widow but also the surrounding biodiversity, which could be affected by curiosity or misguided human involvement, Aquitaine Online explains.
No risk to humans
The black widow, capable of feeding on the male after mating, and renowned for its venomous potential, represents no danger to humans. Experts point out that the spider only bites humans when it feels provoked.
(MH with AsD - Source : Aquitaine Online - Illustration : Unsplash)