Tübingen: Chilean recluse spiders found under lecture hall

Exotic spiders have been found at the University of Tübingen. A bite can be dangerous.

Several exotic and dangerous spiders have been discovered in the basement of the University of Tübingen . Six specimens of the Chilean recluse spider were found beneath the lecture hall complex, the university administration reported. This species is normally only found in South America.

"However, the species is frequently invasive and has now been discovered in numerous countries outside of South America," said Hubert Höfer, head of the zoology department at the State Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe. This is also due to the fact that it often lives in buildings and from there can enter exported goods.

The Chilean recluse spider (Loxosceles laeta) is considered shy of humans and is nocturnal. According to the University of Tübingen, bites are rare. Contact between the spider and humans can be avoided through simple precautions. However, if a bite does occur, medical treatment is necessary.

Because in rare cases, necrosis (severe tissue damage) can occur. "To minimize the risk, the university immediately informed all users of the affected rooms and initiated measures to control the spider," the university announced. No further spiders were found in the surrounding rooms.