Bahrain’s residents have been urged to contact the Health Ministry if they come across mysterious insects after officials visited a house where poisonous spiders have reportedly been found.

The delegation was led by officials from the environmental health department.

A British resident of the house claimed she had found six of what she believed to be either black widow or brown widow spiders in her back garden.

The mother-of-two, who did not wish to be named, said she was terrified by the discovery, but wanted to make people in Bahrain aware that the species could be here.

Health officials said the spiders were not native to Bahrain or the wider region and might have been transported here in furniture or other items from overseas.

Ministry public health director Dr Khariya Moosa said the team would take samples of the spiders and carry out a series of tests.

She added they would also conduct a full report on their findings before confirming their species and advising the public.

The black widow and brown widow are two highly venomous spiders, mostly found in North America. They are distinguishable by an hourglass-shape mark on the underside of their abdomen. – TradeArabia News Service