Black and Brown Widows

Female Black Widow spiders have a red hourglass shape on their backs. Males have white spots on their sides.

Males only live about a year, but the female can live up to 3 years. Hungry female Black Widow spiders have been known to kill the male spider after mating, but that isn't always the case. Geographically, Black Widow spiders can be found in the Eastern, Central and Western United States. Brown widow spiders are prevalent in the south.

Diet

Black Widow spiders eat other pests. Sometimes they even eat other spiders!

Habitat

Black Widow spiders tend to live in cellars and in piles of wood or trash.

Impact

The bite of a female Black Widow spider can be poisonous but not deadly to humans. The male Black Widow spider does not bite. A Black Widow spider bite is pale in the middle with a red ring around it and is followed by severe cramping, weakness, sweating, headache, anxiety, itching, nausea, vomiting, difficult breathing and increased blood pressure.

Prevention

Wear heavy gloves when moving things that have been stored for a long time. Shake out your shoes before putting them on. Just to be safe, stay away from spider webs.