Black widow spiders, belonging to the Latrodectus genus, are notorious for their venomous bites. These spiders have a shiny black body with a distinctive red hourglass-shaped marking on their abdomen, making them easy to identify.
While most spiders produce venom, only a few have the ability to cause harm to humans, and black widow spiders are notably one of them.
A black widow spider bite can be toxic and dangerous, due to the venom it injects. The venom targets the victim’s nervous system, leading to symptoms such as muscle pain, nausea, and even difficulty breathing in severe cases.
However, it’s important to note that adult female black widows are the primary ones with dangerous venom, and they often try to escape rather than bite unless they feel threatened or are defending their eggs.
For those who are bitten, prompt medical attention is crucial. The treatment for black widow spider envenomation often involves the use of antivenin, which can effectively neutralize the spider’s venom.
Black Widow Spider Overview
Appearance and Characteristics
- Shiny black body: Black widow spiders are known for their glossy black appearance.
- Red hourglass shape: They display a distinct, red hourglass shape on their belly area, which is a recognizable feature of black widow spiders.
- Female spiders: Female black widows are larger and more venomous than their male counterparts, making them more dangerous to humans.
Habitat and Distribution
The black widow spider is native to North America and can be found across the United States, including the following species:
- Southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans): This species is more common in the southern regions of the US.
- Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus): This species, on the other hand, can be found in the northern parts of the country.
| Southern Black Widow | Northern Black Widow | |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Southern US | Northern US |
| Body Size | Larger | Smaller |
| Range | Wider distribution | More limited |
Dangerous Spider or Misunderstood Creature?
Although black widow spiders possess venom, they generally pose a low risk to humans. These spiders are not aggressive and usually only bite in self-defense.
Female Spiders and Self-Defense
As mentioned earlier, female black widow spiders are responsible for the majority of bites. When they sense a threat, they may bite to protect themselves. However, the risk of being bitten by a black widow remains low.
Black Widow Spider Bite
How Bites Occur
Black widow spiders, belonging to the Latrodectus genus, are known for their venomous bites. Bites usually happen when these spiders feel threatened or disturbed, especially when guarding their eggs.
Identifying Spider Bites
A black widow spider bite is identifiable by two small pinprick marks caused by the spider’s fangs. It might be surrounded by redness, cause a rash or appear swollen.
Other poisonous spiders exhibit similar bites; however, the black widow has a unique red hourglass-shaped marking on its belly to help with identification.
Signs and Symptoms
A bite from a black widow spider can cause various symptoms, including:
- Pain and itchiness around the bite area
- Muscle tremors
- High blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing
Here’s a comparison table for black widow spider bites and bites from other spiders:
| Spider Type | Bites Appearance | Symptoms | Venom Potency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Widow Spider | Red, swollen, pinprick | Pain, tremors, high blood pressure, difficulty breathing | High toxicity |
| Other Spiders | Red, rash-like | Varying severity, usually mild pain and rash | Varies in toxicity |
While black widow spider bites are rarely fatal, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention if bitten.
Medical Treatment and Home Remedies
When to Seek Medical Help
Seek medical help immediately if bitten by a black widow spider, especially if severe pain, trouble breathing, or other serious symptoms occur.
Bites can be particularly dangerous for young children, older people, and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Symptoms to watch for include:
- Severe pain or swelling
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating and chills
- Muscle cramps and spasms
- Headaches and fever
Professional Treatment Options
Doctors may administer several treatments for black widow spider bites. These options can include:
- Antivenom: A medical professional may use antivenom to counteract the toxic effects of the bite, depending on the severity of the symptoms.
- Pain relief and muscle relaxants: Over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription medications can alleviate pain, while muscle relaxants help with muscle cramps and spasms.
- Tetanus shot: A tetanus shot may be administered if the person hasn’t had one in the past 10 years.
- Monitoring and supportive care: Hospitalization may be necessary for severe symptoms or if an allergic reaction occurs.
Home Remedies
While waiting for medical help or if symptoms are mild, follow these steps to alleviate pain and reduce the risk of infection:
- Wash the bite area with soap and water to clean the wound and prevent infection.
- Apply an ice pack to the bite area to reduce swelling and numb the pain.
- Elevate the bitten area to decrease swelling.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to manage pain.
- Use antihistamines (such as diphenhydramine) to help with itching and inflammation.
Prevention Tips:
- Wear gloves when handling firewood or working in areas with rocks, leaves, or debris, as black widow spiders might be hiding there.
- Check shoes, clothes, and garages for spiders before use.
- Keep outdoor sheds, woodpiles, and basements clean and free of clutter.
Comparing Black Widow and Brown Recluse Bites
| Feature | Black Widow Spider | Brown Recluse Spider |
|---|---|---|
| Venom Potency | Highly Venomous, can cause severe pain and life-threatening symptoms | Less venomous, can cause tissue damage and localized reactions |
| Bite Appearance | Two small puncture marks | “Bull’s-eye” pattern of red, white, and blue circles |
| Common Symptoms | Pain, muscle cramps, abdominal pain, and breathing difficulties | Pain, swelling, and an ulcer in the bite area |
| Treatment | Antivenom, pain relief, and muscle relaxants | Supportive care, pain relief, and possible surgical intervention in severe cases |
Remember, always seek professional medical help after a venomous spider bite, and use home remedies only as a supplement to professional care or as an immediate intervention while waiting for help.
Prevention and Caution
Avoiding Black Widow Spider Habitats
Black widow spiders are known to inhabit dark, enclosed spaces like garages, sheds, and basements. Keep aware of these areas and keep them clean to limit the spiders’ presence.
They also tend to hide in rocks or piles of rocks, so be cautious when handling or moving such items outdoors.
Dressing for Protection
When entering or working in areas where black widow spiders may be present, it’s essential to dress appropriately with protection in mind. For instance:
- Wear long sleeves and pants to cover exposed skin.
- Put on shoes that fully cover your feet.
- Use gloves when handling items in spider-infested areas.
By doing this, the risk of suffering a spider bite can be minimized.
Handling Items in Spider-Infested Areas
In case you encounter a black widow or brown recluse spider, always exercise caution when handling items. Some suggestions include:
- Wear gloves for added protection.
- Shake off objects like shoes or clothing before using them.
- Use a tool to move objects when possible, creating distance between you and the spider.
| Black Widow Spider | Brown Recluse Spider |
|---|---|
| Shiny black body | Brownish body |
| Red hourglass on abdomen | Violin-shaped marking on its back |
| Mostly found in dark, enclosed spaces | Requires similar precautions |
- Both spiders can deliver painful and potentially harmful bites.
- Taking the same precautions for both can greatly reduce the risk of being bitten.
Conclusion
In summary, black widow spiders, identifiable by their glossy black bodies and iconic red hourglass markings, are among the few spiders with venom potent enough to harm humans.
While their bites can lead to severe symptoms, it’s crucial to recognize that they are not naturally aggressive and typically bite in self-defense. Immediate medical attention is essential if bitten.
By understanding their habitats and characteristics, and by taking preventive measures, we can coexist with these creatures while ensuring our safety.
Rus
17 Comments. Leave new
Hi i am just 11 but i know a lot about animals and would like to know if the spider above can harm you or cause death because i saw it on my deck and got the fly spray on it has a white stripe like the one above but doesn’t have anyway bumps on the stripe and it’s reddy and brown on the background please tell me because i need to know!
What a great image on that first widow! I just spotted a large one myself last night in the garden. She was eating a cricket when I saw her. Today I found a web near a hose bib. Arizona is said to have more than usual right now, not sure myself, but two inst that bad 😉
I found one of these Brown Windows under the cushen of a clients lown chair in Long Beach, California . He has a dog and cat. Are they poisonous to animals?
The bite of a Brown Widow is reportedly considerably less dangerous than that of a Black Widow.
I had these when I lived in the Coastal Range of Oregon. Now I live in Central Oregon (desert) and we have the real ones.
You may not endorse extermination but I found these spiders and some of their sacks outside my house and I almost walked in to one. I killed all I could see and the egg sacs and I’m bringing the exterminator out soon
Our tolerance regarding extermination is significantly diminished with invasive species like the Brown Widow.
Didn’t get photos but found black and browns on a ladder i was washing down because my spidey senses were tingling.
July 2 2014. I guess they don’ t like water…lol. So they were living within 2 ft. of each other…
I’ll get photos of next time but I really hope they all got the hint and ran to a distant location…
Didn’t get photos but found black and browns on a ladder i was washing down because my spidey senses were tingling.
July 2 2014. I guess they don’ t like water…lol. So they were living within 2 ft. of each other…
I’ll get photos of next time but I really hope they all got the hint and ran to a distant location…
Oh…and they were both pretty big…nickle and quarter I’d say. I still am getting some pretty major chicken skin and they get big spiders, and centipedes, in hawaii where I’m from…yikey.
I found 3 of theses and a big egg sack outside on my house behind a piece of plywood, in Salem, Oregon.
i just found one of these tonight surrounded by a freshly hatched sack of eggs with about 100 babies. all under a plastic chair on my porch. there were also about five other unhatched eggsacks. had to exterminate due to the sheer number of them and also their toxic factor. kept the adult to add to my collection
Our literature says the same. But I’ll try to translate three cases of adults who was biten by L. geometricus:
“After about 8 hours I felt chills and started an intense pain, I continued using antiallergics and ointment, after about 12 hours I sweated constantly, much sweat, abnormal, and after the sweat passed the pain extended for some 3 days.” Ítalo Dias, adult male, the mildest case.
http://www.insetologia.com.br/2015/04/picada-de-viuva-marrom-no-piaui-e.html
Well, I was bitten by this spider, and I was in a lot of pain for 24 hours, and even taking analgesic, the pain did not pass, it only softened. I had a sweat, a vomiting, and a lot of pain in the groin with strong cramps in the bottom of my belly. The bite was in the leg, knee height. Thank you for your attention.
Carla, adult female.
“About 5 minutes after dressing my shirt, I began to feel some very bad pain in my belly and I just put my hand to relieve it, believing it to be no big deal. It was then that the pain became very strong and I turned on the lights to see what it was: my belly was very reddish, and on the bed, to my fright, a dead spider (I think I rolled over it).
I did not know what to do and went to an emergency room. But only one hospital in a city of approximately 1 million is “able” to meet insect bites. At that moment my belly ached heavily and began to swell …
I got to the hospital indicated by the emergency room, and even taking the spider (they did not even see it, the nurse even mocked the situation), all they gave me was an anti-allergy and an analgesic (because I asked for it) and they sent me home.
The strong pain lasted for 3 days. A pain like a burn. The spot around the bite turned very sweaty red during the 3 days. I can not tell if the place was cold or hot … But it was a strange sensation. Today, day (4-5 days after), I still feel pain when I put my finger on the spot.
Djalma Filho, adult male, 6’11” tall, 176Lbs
http://www.insetologia.com.br/2014/03/picada-de-viuva-marrom-na-paraiba.html
The only mild case was a male L. geometricus bite.
Thanks for providing all this information from Brazilian reports Cesar.
Our literature says the same. But I’ll try to translate three cases of adults who was biten by L. geometricus:
“After about 8 hours I felt chills and started an intense pain, I continued using antiallergics and ointment, after about 12 hours I sweated constantly, much sweat, abnormal, and after the sweat passed the pain extended for some 3 days.” Ítalo Dias, adult male, the mildest case.
http://www.insetologia.com.br/2015/04/picada-de-viuva-marrom-no-piaui-e.html
Well, I was bitten by this spider, and I was in a lot of pain for 24 hours, and even taking analgesic, the pain did not pass, it only softened. I had a sweat, a vomiting, and a lot of pain in the groin with strong cramps in the bottom of my belly. The bite was in the leg, knee height. Thank you for your attention.
Carla, adult female.
“About 5 minutes after dressing my shirt, I began to feel some very bad pain in my belly and I just put my hand to relieve it, believing it to be no big deal. It was then that the pain became very strong and I turned on the lights to see what it was: my belly was very reddish, and on the bed, to my fright, a dead spider (I think I rolled over it).
I did not know what to do and went to an emergency room. But only one hospital in a city of approximately 1 million is “able” to meet insect bites. At that moment my belly ached heavily and began to swell …
I got to the hospital indicated by the emergency room, and even taking the spider (they did not even see it, the nurse even mocked the situation), all they gave me was an anti-allergy and an analgesic (because I asked for it) and they sent me home.
The strong pain lasted for 3 days. A pain like a burn. The spot around the bite turned very sweaty red during the 3 days. I can not tell if the place was cold or hot … But it was a strange sensation. Today, day (4-5 days after), I still feel pain when I put my finger on the spot.
Djalma Filho, adult male, 6’11” tall, 176Lbs
http://www.insetologia.com.br/2014/03/picada-de-viuva-marrom-na-paraiba.html
The only mild case was a male L. geometricus bite.
I don’t think this is a possible variation for L. geometricus. Steatoda must be correct.
We agree, but we did not want to close the door on the other possibility.