Deadly Bugs: The Black Widow Spider

The Black Widow is a poisonous spider easily identified by its black color and a red, hourglass-shaped spot on the huge, black abdomen of the female. This spider gets its name from the fact that the female eats the male after mating.

Where it lurks - Black Widows like to build webs in or under objects close to the ground. They are commonly found in stacks of firewood, storage sheds, water meter boxes, under porches, and in or around flower pots. They are not overly aggressive, unless touched, and they rarely leave their webs, where they hang with their bellys pointed up. Most people are bit carrying firewood, or moving stacks of newspapers or magazines around in the garage. To avoid being bitten, wear gloves and long-sleeve shirts when handling firewood.

How serious is the bite? - Although the venom of Black Widows is 15 times more deadly than that of most rattlesnakes, not much venom is injected in a bite, and the venom in small doses is not particularly potent. However, the Black Widow bite, like the sting of bees and wasps, can be fatal to some people. At least 4 deaths from Black Widows were reported in the U.S. between 1989 and 1999. The seriousness of a bite will depend upon the individual, where on the body they are bit, and how much venom is injected.

Black Widow venom attacks the nervous system. Besides pain and minor swelling that may or may not result from a bite, symptoms include muscle cramps, convulsions, and/or stopped breathing. The few reported deaths in the U.S. resulted from respiratory failure.

An anti-venom is available, but most people are simply kept under observation in a doctor's care for a few hours and sent home if serious symptoms do not result. Fortunately, the effects of most bites do not last long, and most people recover in a few hours.