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Black widows are spiders found across the world and are one of the most venomous species in the United States. Even though black widow bites are rarely fatal and only happen when you provoke a spider, they can still cause a lot of pain and make you extremely sick. If you’re worried about a spider you found near your home, there are many ways to tell if you’re dealing with this dangerous species. We’ll start with some distinguishing physical features to look out for and move on to information about the spiders’ webs and where to find them.
Steps
Expert Q&A
- QuestionHow can I get rid of black widow spiders naturally?
Elmer BensingerElmer Bensinger is a Pest Control Specialist with Eden Advanced Pest Technologies in Spokane, Washington. With over 20 years of experience, Elmer specializes in integrated pest management and products such as insecticides and rodenticides. He studied business at South Puget Sound Community College.
Pest Control SpecialistIf you can eliminate their food source, they won't stay there. Black widows usually make their webs down low, so to cut off their food source, you want to trim back vegetation and remove clutter. - QuestionCan I use pesticides to get rid of black widows?Elmer BensingerElmer Bensinger is a Pest Control Specialist with Eden Advanced Pest Technologies in Spokane, Washington. With over 20 years of experience, Elmer specializes in integrated pest management and products such as insecticides and rodenticides. He studied business at South Puget Sound Community College.
Pest Control SpecialistSpraying pesticides around the outside of your house will help because it will reduce their food source and deter them from staying there. If you're seeing a ton of them, I would definitely get an expert out there to see what's going on though.
Tips
- Black widows aren’t aggressive, so it’s not likely that you’ll be bitten by one unless you provoke it.[14]Thanks
- Wear gloves and long-sleeved shirts when you’re working somewhere where a black widow may hide so you’re less likely to get bitten.[15]Thanks
Warnings
References
- ↑ https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/black_widow_spider.pdf
- ↑ Elmer Bensinger. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 5 February 2021.
- ↑ https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/black_widow_spider.pdf
- ↑ http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74149.html
- ↑ http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74149.html
- ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/home/the-black-widow/
- ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/invasive-wildlife-control/black-widow-and-recluses/
- ↑ https://www.livescience.com/39919-black-widow-spiders.html
- ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/home/the-black-widow/
- ↑ http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74149.html
- ↑ https://idfg.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/we_octt17blackwidowspider_final.pdf
- ↑ http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74149.html
- ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/home/the-black-widow/
- ↑ https://idfg.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/we_octt17blackwidowspider_final.pdf
- ↑ https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/black_widow_spider.pdf
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002858.htm
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/black-widow.html
About This Article
To identify a black widow, look for traits commonly found on black widows, like a bright red marking that resembles an hourglass on the spider’s round belly, which are found on female spiders. Additionally, female black widows will have shiny, hairless black bodies, and males are marked with brown and white. All black widows have long legs, and their hind legs are covered in bristles, which help them kill their prey. For more tips for spotting a black widow spider, including how to identify a black widow’s web, keep scrolling!
Reader Success Stories
"Thanks to this article, I was able to tell that the house that I have just moved into was infested with about 20 black widows. If I had listened to my friends, I'd probably be in the hospital or worse from getting bit. Thank you to all the people who posted all of this information. It probably saved my life."..." more
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