Mythbusters: Black Widow Edition

We have heard some crazy beliefs about black widows over the years. Find out how much of what you believe about these spiders is true.

One seemingly universal belief about black widows is that aren't a spider you want to have on your property or stumble onto when you're out. That is undoubtedly true. Below are some other beliefs about black widow spiders, and if they are fact or fiction.

All Black Widow Spiders Are Female

False. This one always surprises us a little when we hear it. While there is the extremely rare example of a female-only species (ever heard of the whiptail lizard?), it is almost never the case that a species would have only females or only males. Black Widow spiders are not an exception to the rule. There are both male and female black widow spiders.

As a side note, it's not completely untrue that female black widow spiders kill and eat their mate, but it happens as the exception, not the rule, and in only one of the three species of black widows.

All Black Widow Spiders Look The Same

This one is also false. Most female black widow spiders look similar to one another. There are three major species and while the markings may vary somewhat, the general features are very similar. Characteristically, the females are shiny black with a round abdomen. They have a red or orange hourglass shaped marking (or similar looking dots) on the underside of their stomach. The female black widows get to be about a half inch in body length, with the legs making them even larger.

The males don't look like the females, though they also look similar to one another across the black widow species. They are lighter in color and have smaller, less distinct abdomens. They may have red or pinkish markings, but not always. They are also only about half the size of the females.

Black Widow Spiders Can Kill People

This is one of the most popular beliefs about black widow spiders that we hear. It's not entirely false, but it's also rarely true.

Black widow spiders will bite you if you get into their space, and that bite will cause pain, usually immediately. You will see tiny puncture wounds and it will start to swell around the site. In bad bites, the pain will intensify and begin to cramp surrounding muscles. The cramps can spread toward the center of the body. Black widow bites may require hospitalization to treat the bite and/or the symptoms. Additionally, protection from tetanus is also required after a black widow bite, meaning that you'll need to get a shot if your tetanus booster isn't up to date.

Getting bitten by a black widow can be a very extreme health event and may require medical intervention. Fortunately, death occurring from black widow spider bites is rare. In extreme cases, such as with those most at risk - like young children and the elderly - an antivenom will be administered.

"Some black widow bites cause such extreme pain that it's mistaken for appendicitis or a heart attack." – Poison Control; National Capital Poison Center

Black Widow Spiders Can Kill Pets

This isn't a myth. Unfortunately, black widow spider bites can be fatal to pets. In fact, a single bite can be lethal, even to a larger dog. Larger animals tend to fare better than smaller animals, but all are susceptible. Even an animal as large as a horse can experience the extreme effects of the black widow spider bite.

The venom in the bite of a black widow spider is even more toxic than most snake venoms, and can cause severe muscle spasms, respiratory problems, paralysis and death of animals. Symptoms such as vomiting, trouble walking, agitation, tiredness, and a dozen others can begin within thirty minutes of the bite.

Black Widows Are The Most Dangerous Spider In Virginia

This answer depends on who you ask, though black widows usually come out ahead. The top two spiders of "medical concern" in Virginia are the black widow spider and the brown recluse. Black widow spiders cause more fatalities and serious side effects than brown recluse spiders; however, brown recluse victims can take months to recover while black widow victims are usually well within a few days.

One undisputable fact about black widows is that they aren't a pest you want to live with. They hide and can be stumbled upon unknowingly, endangering the lives and health of your family and your pets.

Don't live with dangerous spiders lurking about. Call us today and let us build a pest barrier around your home so that you, your kids, and your pets can enjoy your inside and outside living spaces with a peace of mind.

For information on other local pests, check out our other blog posts and our pest library