While most people think of spiders as being creepy, they can be beneficial as well. Spiders catch flies and other insects in their webs that can greatly reduce the bug population around your home. But finding a Black Widow in your home is a whole different story because of its venomous bite. Knowing a few facts about Black Widows such as where to look for them, how to identify them, and how to avoid their bite can help keep you and your family safe. Seeing one Black Widow in your home may be alarming, but it can easily be eliminated. If you start to see multiple Black Widows in your home, you may be justifiably concerned.
How to identify a Black Widow
Black Widows spin messy, irregular webs somewhat low to the ground to catch their prey. Black Widows can be identified by their solid black body with the classic red hourglass on the underside of their abdomen. You will only see the red hourglass if the spider flips over or you are looking at it through their web. Male Black Widows can be smaller than their female counterparts and are brownish gray.
Where do Black Widows live?
Black Widows can be found in all 50 states of the US but they prefer to live in temperate climates, making states like California and Texas prime locations. Black Widows like to make their webs in crevices and other dark, secluded areas. They may be living in your wood pile, folded blankets, shoes, porch eaves, and in basements.
While Black Widows will do their best to avoid you, if you mistakenly put your hand too close to them, or pick up an item containing a Black Widow, it is possible that you may suffer a bite.
When a Black Widow bites
Black Widow bites are rarely fatal. But because of the amount of venom that a Black Widow can deliver in a single bite, it is important to be on the lookout for them. Young children and even the elderly could suffer from a Black Widow bite that could end up leading to death. But Black Widows do not always use their venom when they bite so it is important to know the symptoms when they do. If you are bitten by a Black Widow, getting medical attention is important. Watch for symptoms like:
- Painful swelling around the bite
- Muscle spasms
- Cramps
- General achiness
Can my home be infested with Black Widows?
Female Black Widows can lay up to 900 eggs in a single egg sac. After about a month, the white and orange Black Widow babies will hatch. But these baby spiders will often eat one another, producing few spiders that reach adulthood. But having one or more Black Widows living in your home is too close for comfort and should be safely eradicated as soon as possible.
For residents in Visalia, CA, give San Joaquin Pest Control in Visalia a call today. Our technicians will carefully remove all Black Widows from in and around your home so you do not have to worry.
