Black Widow Spiders

What do black widow spiders look like?

Adult black widow spiders range in length from 1-1/2 to 1-3/8 inches; males are usually about half the size of females. Males also have longer legs in proportion to their bodies than the females do; and their legs have orange or brown markings at the joints. Black widow spiders are shiny black, have a distinctive red hourglass-like marking on their backs, and may have light red or white spots on their abdomens. Black widow spiders, like all spider species have four pair of legs.

Where are black widow spiders found?

Black widow spiders prefer to live outside. Females build their webs in spaces found between logs, rocks, near foundations, and in quiet outbuildings. They may enter Quad City homes through gaps around windows and doors and through cracks in the foundation or exterior walls. Black widow spiders are very shy and reclusive; and once inside a home, they like to hide in low traffic or undisturbed areas like closets, the corners of basements, crawlspaces, and underneath furniture and chairs.

Male black widow spiders do not build webs. The females create large irregularly shaped webs that they rarely leave because they wait for their prey to come to them. Inside the web, the females create a small funnel-like structure that they retreat inside of when they get scared.

What do black widow spiders eat?

Black widow spiders feed on insects. They use their venom to paralyze and kill their prey. Then they inject a special fluid into the insect that lets the spider suck out the now liquid insides of their prey.

Only females are venomous; the males are not. A bite from a black widow spider generally only happens if a person accidentally makes direct contact with the spider - like putting on a shoe or article of clothing that they are hiding in. The venom affects a person’s nervous system; and while serious, a bite rarely leads to death. The symptoms can generally be managed by medical professionals until they go away.