Thus, it is becoming increasingly obvious that these arthropods with venomous claw-like chelicerae are now regularly encountered throughout the country. Scientists are closely monitoring the dispersal of the species, recording its adaptation to conditions that were previously considered unfavorable for heat-loving animals.
“In connection with this, the probability increases that this species will definitively gain a foothold in the region,” reported Alexander Wirth from the nature conservation organization Nabu. “It is quite possible that this spider is already permanently residing in the last of the federal states it had not yet settled until now.”
The species, originating from the Mediterranean region, has been rapidly and consistently expanding its habitat range since its first detection in southwestern Germany in 2005. In 2022, the first isolated case was officially registered in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, but at that time, it was proven during an inspection that the spider had arrived there in the suitcase of one of the travelers, meaning it was introduced accidentally. According to current information from the Nabu organization, by now several confirmed cases of this spider being found have already been recorded in the north of the country, including on the coast and on the islands of Rügen and Usedom.
Spiders Have Mastered Lübeck
From the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, substantially more official reports from citizens have also been coming in recently, Nabu zoologists note. Thus, by now, this southern species has completely mastered Lübeck. Since 2024, there have been verified photographs of these individuals from this Hanseatic city.
“Reports about the appearance of the Nosferatu spider are coming from Northern Germany more and more frequently,” Wirth explains. “The harsher climate of northern latitudes, apparently, does not hinder its expansion. In the cold season, it simply moves into heated houses and apartments, where the temperature conditions are more comfortable for it.”
The body length of the Nosferatu spider (Zoropsis spinimana) is from one to two centimeters, which makes it a noticeable object for observations. The leg span, according to Nabu specialists, can reach five centimeters. “The name of the species is connected with the characteristic dark pattern on the cephalothorax, which reminds many observers of the face of the vampire from the classic feature film of the same name, ‘Nosferatu,'” specialists from the Karlsruhe Museum of Natural History explained in April.
The Year 2026 Demonstrates High Activity of the Population
Thanks to its strong venom, robust body structure, and high agility during hunting, this predominantly nocturnal spider, according to available entomological information, successfully copes with fairly large prey.
It also belongs to the few species living in Germany that are physically capable of biting through human skin. However, its bite, as a rule, does not pose a serious danger to health and is comparable to a wasp sting in terms of painfulness.
According to current information from the Nabu organization, from 3,000 to 5,000 official reports with verified photographs attached are registered nationwide every year. In the spring of the current year, the number of observations on the part of the population noticeably increased: from January to May, more than 2,500 pictures were submitted to online platforms.
“If this trend continues, then 2026 will again demonstrate a record high activity of the Nosferatu population,” Wirth noted, adding that scientists welcome the logging of each new case of discovery, preferably with a clear photo confirmation. This allows researchers to track in detail the further spatial development of the population and the ecological characteristics of the lifestyle of a species new to the region.
It should be noted that the process of the Nosferatu spider dispersing across the entire territory of Germany clearly illustrates the mechanisms of synanthropic range expansion, in which wild species use human-made urban infrastructure to survive in atypical climatic zones. The successful establishment of the Mediterranean newcomer in northern Germany testifies to the high ecological plasticity of the species. The systematic collection of data involving citizen science not only confirms the fact of the expansion, but also helps profile scientific centers timely evaluate the impact of new faunal elements on local ecosystems.
