Black Widow Spider

The female eats the male after mating earning her name. She hangs belly upward and rarely leaves the web.

Identification

1 1/2 inches (38mm) long, 1/4 inch (6.4mm) in diameter. The female is usually glossy black with a red spot or hourglass- shaped mark on its round abdomen. The male usually has light streaks on its abdomen. *Note both male and female are poisonous

Environment

The black widow most often makes its irregularly shaped web under flat rocks, logs, along embankments or in outbuildings. They are common around wood piles, and are frequently encountered when homeowners carry firewood into the house. Also found under eaves, in boxes, outdoor toilets, meter boxes, and other unbothered places.

Life Cycle

Egg sacs are brown, papery, about ½ inch long and oval. They hold from 25 to 900 or more eggs, which have an incubation period of 20 days. Growth requires two to three months, with older females dying in autumn after egg laying.

Health Risks

A black widow spider bite often results in delayed pain at the wound site. Severe abdominal cramps, muscle tightness or soreness, headache, nausea and sweating usually follow. Swelling may be noticed in the hands, feet or eyelids, but usually not at the bite site. Discomfort can last several days and may be relieved through medical treatment. It is unusual though not unheard of for a widow bite to cause death.