Latrodectus mactans
Color: Glossy black with a prominent red hourglass mark on the underside of the abdomen.
Size: Females 8 – 13 mm Males 3 – 6 mm
Shape: Round abdomen, slender legs, eight eyes in a row.
Diet: Carnivorous and predatory. Feeds on small insects.
Habitat: North America
Usually active at night, hiding during the day. They are not aggressive. They prefer to retreat when disturbed. They prefer to set irregular nets in dark areas. They do not actively hunt, they wait for their prey to be caught in their nets. They immobilize their prey with their venom. They like to live alone except for the mating period. They live in rural and urban areas. They like dark, undisturbed places such as basements, garages, woodpiles and crawl spaces, where they spend their time. Important in controlling insect populations.
Although black widow spiders are beneficial, there may be situations where their elimination may be necessary.
If inside your home, especially areas with children or pets,
If it is a heavily used space such as a garage, basement or backyard,
If you or someone in your household is likely to have a serious reaction to spider bites,
Instead of killing a black widow, we can remove them in different ways;
Using a jar and a piece of cardboard to gently catch the spider and leave it in an area away from its environment.
Close cracks to prevent them from nesting near your living spaces, check and close woodpiles.
It is very important to use creatures that feed on spiders, such as birds and lizards, but it is very important to pay attention to the creatures to be used in this method.
An infestation of black widows can be alarming if they nest in areas close to humans. Because these spiders are shy and nocturnal, they go unnoticed until their populations increase.
Presence of Irregular Webs; Black widow spiders build scattered, irregular and tangled webs close to the ground. Their webs are often found in corners, cracks, basements, garages, sheds and woodpiles.
Seeing Live Spiders; Since they are usually active at night, live spider activity is found in calm and quiet environments where they can live.
Seeing Egg Sacs; They have silky, round, white or light brown egg sacs about 1 cm (0.5 in) in diameter. Egg sacs can contain hundreds of spiderlings, which can rapidly increase the population. Egg sacs are usually attached to their webs in dark, hidden areas.
A black widow spider bite appears as two small red puncture marks, sometimes surrounded by slight swelling and redness. Pain can start at the bite site and spread to other areas within 30 to 60 minutes. Over time, the bite site can develop into a hard, raised lump with a pale center and a red outer ring. A black widow bite does not usually cause an open wound or ulcer. Symptoms can include muscle cramps, sweating, nausea and, in severe cases, difficulty breathing. Because black widow venom can cause severe reactions, especially in children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, medical attention should be sought immediately if bitten.
