Where Can You Find Black Widow Spiders?
WouterThe black widow spider is one of the most harmful arachnids. Its bite is not only painful but can lead to severe infections. These creatures are mainly solitary. They have eight eyes that are arranged in two rows.
Black widow spiders live in shady, dark places. They tend to nest in dry, man-made structures such as woodpiles and hollow tree stumps. When they are not nesting, they hide during the day.
Black widow spiders are most commonly found in the southern part of the United States. These spiders are not house spiders, though they can be found in homes. During the colder months, they migrate to warmer areas.
These spiders are most common around houses and barns. Their webs are often made in crevices and around vents. Unlike other spiders, their webs are not spiral-shaped. Instead, they have strands that are strong and appear unkempt.
They also make their nests in small, sheltered spaces. If you are unsure of what kind of spiders you have, you can look for red spots on the abdomen or a row of hourglass-shaped markings on the underside of the spider’s abdomen.
When a black widow spider bites, its venom will cause muscle pain. This venom affects the nerve-muscle junction in the body, causing the muscle to repeatedly contract. The intensity of the symptoms varies depending on the amount of venom ingested.
Most of the black widow spiders that you will encounter are females. Males are smaller and have a different coloration than the females.
