The Nosferatu spider is also at home in Saxony

Climate change favors the spread of the Nosferatu spider

“Due to climate change, the species can spread more easily north of the Alps, although it remains predominantly tied to buildings. It therefore cannot be ruled out that Nosferatu spiders will also become more common in Saxony in the coming years," said Hofer.

The body of the Nosferatu spider (Zoropsis spinimana) grows to about one to two centimeters in length. Its leg span can reach up to five centimeters, according to NABU’s description of the animal. “The name derives from the characteristic markings on the front of the body, which remind many creative observers of the vampire’s grimace from the film of the same name, Nosferatu,” wrote the Karlsruhe Natural History Museum in April.

A bite is generally harmless to humans

Thanks to its venom, robust build, and hunting skills, the predominantly nocturnal spider is reportedly capable of handling even fairly large prey. It is also said to be one of the few species capable of piercing human skin with its venomous fangs. However, the bite is generally harmless.

Saxony is rich in spider species

The only Red List for harvestmen and web spiders in Saxony to date was compiled in 1996. This Red List assessed 27 species of harvestmen and 615 species of web spiders. Of these species, 37 percent were endangered, extinct, or missing. In Germany, a total of 971 native species and 21 “non-native” species that had been introduced were known in 2015.

The Entomofaunistic Society, based in Dresden, has a checklist of spiders in Saxony from the mid-1990s, which was updated in 2008. It lists 650 species in 37 spider families. The State Operating Company for Environment and Agriculture (BfUL) estimates that there are currently about 670 species in Saxony, some of which are recent immigrants.

Due to ongoing changes in land use and climate, experts assume that the populations of many species have changed. Similar to insects, intensive agriculture and forestry—with excessive accumulation of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus—also has consequences for spiders. Interference with the natural water balance or the fragmentation of habitats endangers these animals, it was reported. 

In Saxony, the State Office and the operating company Umwelt und Landwirtschaft are examining not only ground beetles but also spiders at six selected arable and grassland sites as part of an insect monitoring program. The aim is also to gain insights into natural fluctuations in spider populations. Spiders themselves are not insects, but belong to the class of arachnids.

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