Black Widow Spider
The Black Widow is one of the most feared
spiders in the United States. It is the female black widow spider that is
the most dangerous. The male spiders stop producing venom when they
mature. The females venom is quite harmful to humans. They will bite if
they are defending their eggs or if they are trapped or crushed.
The Black Widow gets its name because of the
tendency of the female to eat its male mate. The female only needs to mate
once in her life and will often but not always eat the male after laying
her eggs. She is also more likely to bite a human after laying eggs.
Identifying The Black Widow Spider
The female black widow will have a round
abdomen with a red mark resembling an hourglass on it. The male has a more
elongated body than the female and will have red and white marks on its
sides.
Black Widow's Habitat
The Black Widow has a large habitat mainly in
the south. They can be found from Florida to California and as far north
as Massachusetts. They prefer to set up their webs in places that remain
undisturbed like wood piles, electrical boxes, etc. The female will rarely
leave her web. The web will be irregular in appearance and will have a
funnel shaped center section. This is where she will spend the majority of
her time.
If you are bit by a Black Widow spider, you
should seek help immediately. The bite may not be immediately be felt but
symptoms will soon appear. You might see two tiny red marks and swelling
at the location of the bite. Other symptoms include: body aches,
headaches, elevated blood pressure, sweating and nausea.
If you suspect you have an infestation of
Black Widows, consult a pest control service in your area. |