Black Widow Spider
Female Black Widow spiders have a red hourglass shape on their backs. Males have white spots on their sides. Males only live about a year, but the female can live up to 3 years. Hungry female Black Widow spiders have been known to kill the male spider after mating, but that isn’t always the case. Geographically, Black Widow spiders can be found in the Eastern, Central and Western United States.
Size: 3/4″ to 3/8″
Shape: Round
Color: Black with characteristic red “hourglass” on back
Legs: 8
Wings: No
Antenna: No
Common Name: Black Widow Spider
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Theridiidae
Species: Lactrodectus mactans
DIET
Black Widow spiders eat other pests. Sometimes they even eat other spiders!
HABITAT
Black Widow spiders tend to live in cellars and in piles of wood or trash.
IMPACT
The bite of a female Black Widow spider can be poisonous but not deadly to humans. The male Black Widow spider does not bite. A Black Widow spider bite is pale in the middle with a red ring around it and is followed by severe cramping, weakness, sweating, headache, anxiety, itching, nausea, vomiting, difficult breathing and increased blood pressure.
PREVENTING SPIDER BITES
* Wear heavy gloves when moving things that have been stored for a long time.
* Shake out your shoes before putting them on.
* Just to be safe, stay away from spider webs.
Brown Recluse Spider
Brown recluse spiders get their name because of their tendency to hide in corners. They are identified by the dark brown violin shaped markings on their back. Native to Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi, they are nocturnal pests.
Size: 5/8″
Shape: Round
Color: Light to dark brown, with a dark brown violin shaped marking on their back.
Legs: 8
Wings: No
Antenna: No
Common Name: Brown Recluse Spider
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Sicariidae
Species: Loxosceles reclusa
DIET
Brown Recluse spiders eat other bugs like cockroaches and crickets.
HABITAT
Brown Recluse spiders live in cellars and in piles of wood or trash.
IMPACT
The brown recluse spider only bites to protect itself. Its bite is painful and can produce an open, ulcerating sore. The center of their bite becomes a blister surrounded by an angry-looking red ring, which is then surrounded by a white ring. A red, itchy rash usually appears in the first 24-48 hours of being bitten. Other symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches.
PREVENTING SPIDER BITES
* Don’t leave clothing on the floor.
* Store clothes and shoes inside plastic containers and shake them out before wearing them.
