How Do Black Widow Spiders Live?
WouterBlack widow spiders live in a variety of environments, including deserts, grasslands, and forests. They are mostly solitary creatures. They prefer to hide and feed on crawling or clinging insects. Their bites are very toxic.
A female black widow spider’s body is shiny black. The underside of her abdomen is marked with a red hourglass pattern. The red coloration is variable, depending on the species. The spiders can also be pale brown or gray.
Females lay eggs that hatch into tiny spiderlings. The egg sacs are yellowish in color. They can hold up to 300 eggs. It is tapered at the top and has a bulbous section at the bottom. It lays its eggs in crevices, vents, or near doors.
The western black widow spider is a common species around homes. It lives in crevices, under stones, and in hollow tree stumps. It can also be found in barns and outbuildings. They make webs in these spaces and other areas. They are particularly active at night.
Black widow spiders are considered to be toxic and have the ability to cause severe infections. However, most people who are bitten do not suffer a significant amount of damage.
The spider’s venom is 15 times more potent than rattlesnake venom. It affects the nerve-muscle junction in the body, and causes the muscle to repeatedly contract.
A mature female western black widow measures about half an inch in length. Her abdomen is rounded and her body is jet black. Its sting is powerful enough to kill most predators. It can survive for several months without feeding.
