The Nosferatu spider has caused terror in recent months because the creepy crawly that migrated to us from the Mediterranean region bites and is poisonous. But it is also true that most spiders bite – although our spiders in Germany are usually fairly harmless to humans. Now, in the cold months, they flee to our cellars, to dry and warm places. In the very rarest cases, we get a bite from the Nosferatu spider. And if you do get bitten, you won’t turn into a vampire right away, don’t worry. We have to get used to the fact that more and more “new” insects are coming to Germany, says the biologist Lisa Schwenkmezger in the 412th episode of the podcast “Today important”: The climate is changing, we now have much warmer winters in Germany, that This means that thermophilic species are more likely to spread.”
The Nosferatu spider isn’t the only nasty creepy crawly that makes our home. The reason for this is not only climate change. “On the one hand, there are neobiota, i.e. non-native species, these are species that are introduced into new areas through human intervention, through trade routes, transport, trade in goods. […[ These are to be distinguished from the species that have become independent due to global warming Extend the distribution area to the north. In our case, these are primarily the Mediterranean species, which are now increasingly common here. They find their way to Germany on their own and also manage to survive here because of the changed climatic conditions,” says Lisa Schwenkmezger in an interview “important today” editor Laura Csapo.
So we have to get used to the fact that more and more little animals are becoming native to us in Germany, which were previously more likely to be found in the south. They like to settle on domestic balconies. However, the biologist Lisa Schwenkmezger does not leave the insects completely unobserved: “We keep databases, monitor such species so that we can see how the distribution area is changing, where do they occur at all, first create the knowledge, where are these species and Then let the public know.”
Don’t miss any other episode of “Today Important” and subscribe to our podcast at: RTL Musik, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Castbox or in your favorite podcast app. If you have any questions or suggestions, please write to us at heuteimportant@stern.de.
