All About Black Widow Spiders

The Black Widow (Theridiidae: Lactrodectus sp.) is actually not an insect, but rather a true arachnid (spider), and an extremely poisonous one at that. A bite from one of these spiders can be fatal if left untreated. The bites are particularly dangerous to the very young, the old, and the ill.

Sometimes the victims of these spiders are not even aware of what happened. They simply fall prey to the symptoms such as a pinprick, then pain throughout the body, stomach cramping (with or without vomiting), and an increase in blood pressure, sometimes accompanied by a ringing in the ears. If bitten, immediately and thoroughly wash the spot (it will usually have the appearance of a reddish bull's-eye) with soapy water, then ice it down. Now, immediately, go and get medical attention. If you are woozy, then get someone to drive you, or call for an ambulance. If you are having trouble breathing, medical care becomes even more critical, and time matters a lot – so hurry!

Black Widows seldom make their homes inside houses, preferring dark areas with little traffic, such as woodpiles and the undersides of flowerpots kept outside. They prey on pests such as crickets, flies, moths, small reptiles and roaches, and only attack in defense. Their normal habitat is a hot climate, and they can be found in almost any dark, warm place throughout the world, especially in the low deserts like Tucson.

All three different species of Black Widow spiders are poisonous at all stages of their lives; indeed, even their egg cocoons contain venom. The female is twice the size of the male, and much more readily identified by the famous red (or orange) hourglass under her shiny black body. Though the male Black Widow lacks the familiar hourglass, he will sometimes sport red and yellow stripes on his sides.

The female can grow to a diameter of one and one-half inches, and is far more dangerous than the male Black Widow spider. These spiders' bodies contain two separate parts, with strong, prominent mandibles and a hard black exoskeleton sprouting the eight legs of the arachnid.

The female Black Widow uses her silk to make messy-looking, tangled webs – not the symmetrical webs we're accustomed to seeing. Interestingly, Black Widows hang upside-down in their unruly webs at night.

This powerful spider can produce thousands of babies in her lifetime, hundreds in each cocoon. The story of the female killing and cannibalizing her partner after mating is true, but it is a highly unusual occurrence. (Small consolation to the male spider who finds himself in this predicament!)

Caution is your best defense against the Black Widow spider. The following hints are good methods to protect yourself and your family from Black Widow spiders, the extremely dangerous Brown Recluse and scorpions, which are also members of the spider family, which is why they have eight legs:

Do not pick up objects such as a rock or a flowerpot without checking underneath it first. If you're in an area known to host Black Widows, develop the habit of shaking out clothes, socks, and shoes before putting them on. Wearing long sleeves and gloves if you need to move around in suspicious areas such as woodpiles is also an excellent idea. Get rid of trash and rubbish such as old cardboard boxes and stacks of old newspaper.

Especially when hiking in the low desert, be alert and aware. They love the desert as much as you do!

EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center
Arizona Health Sciences Center, Room 1156
1501 N. Campbell Ave
Tucson, AZ 85724
Emergency: (800) 222-1222
Administration: (520) 626-7899

<< Return to Animal Articles