Black Widow Spiders

What do black widow spiders look like?

Black widow spiders have a smooth, shiny, hairless appearance. An adult female measures about 1 1/2 inches long, is black and has a bulbous abdomen with a distinctive red hourglass shape on the underside. The adult male is much smaller, around 1/2 inch long, brown, and lacks the red hourglass. Its abdomen is elongated and much narrower than the female's.

What do black widow spider webs look like?

Black widow spider webs may seem like a tangled mess, but they are actually carefully designed prey-catching traps. These webs have three key layers: strong top threads for support, tangled central threads to catch flying prey, and vertical ground threads to trap crawling insects. The web threads are stronger than steel by weight, and you may hear them snap if you walk through a mature black widow web.

Where do black widow spiders hide?

These spiders seek out protected, undisturbed areas where food sources are abundant. They can be found in brush or wood piles, sheds, garages, and storage lockers, among other places. They prefer secluded spots where they can hide safely.

Do black widow spiders live indoors?

Yes, black widows can survive indoors in secluded, pest-prone areas. Watch for their webs as a sign of spider activity indoors. 

Are black widow spiders dangerous?

Black widow venom is powerful and can cause symptoms like pain, headaches, muscle spasms, nausea, and high blood pressure. In some cases, medical attention may be needed, especially for those at higher risk. However, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Black widow spiders can deliver a "dry bite," meaning no venom is injected. This causes localized pain instead of more serious symptoms. They save venom for consuming prey, and humans are too large to be considered food.
• Sometimes, only a small amount of venom is released, which may cause mild flu-like symptoms.
• Black widows aren't aggressive and will usually retreat or play dead when threatened.
• Fatal bites from black widows are extremely rare. 

While it's important to exercise caution around black widow spiders and their webs, there's no need to live in fear.

How can I prevent a black widow spider bite?

If you're working outside or in storage areas, take these simple precautions to avoid bites:

• Wear work gloves when doing yard work.
• Wear shoes outside to protect your feet.
• Shake out towels, blankets, and other items left outdoors.
• Check shoes before putting them on.
• Look for spider webs when grabbing items from storage.
• Be cautious when opening storage boxes or containers.

Managing pests around your property can also help deter black widow spiders.

What can I do to keep black widow spiders out of my yard?

Black widows seek out areas that meet their needs. Here's how you can make your yard less attractive to them:

• Remove organic clutter
  Black widows prefer hiding in brush piles, stacked wood, logs, and other sheltered spaces. Clear out these areas, especially around compost piles, flower beds, and trash bins, which attract insects—their food source.
• Declutter
  Black widows can create webs in voids or spaces between stored items. Reducing clutter in your home and yard can make it less inviting to them.
• Trim plants and landscaping
  Vegetation provides a rich habitat for insects, which attract spiders. Trim plants and manage moisture levels to reduce insect populations, discouraging black widow spiders.
• Reduce or change outdoor lighting
  Insects are drawn to light. Consider turning off outdoor lights when unnecessary or switching to yellow bulbs, which insects find less attractive.

By reducing insect activity, you’ll naturally deter black widow spiders.

What do professionals do to eliminate black widow spiders?

Pest activity attracts black widow spiders to your yard. At Four Seasons Pest Control, we can help by targeting pests, removing spider webs, and treating your property’s exterior to keep spiders and other pests out. If they’ve already found a way indoors, we can help with that, too!

Reach out today to start a customized pest control plan designed to protect your home.