Overview
|
| The adult female Black Widow is considered the most venomous spider
in North America. Her venom is
15 times more toxic than the venom of the
prairie rattlesnake. (Male and juvenile black widows are harmless.) |
|
 |
The female Black Widow is shiny jet black, usually
with a small red, orange, or yellow hourglass shape on the underside of her
abdomen. Her leg span is about 3 cm.
Note that the image shows a widow upside-down in her typical position in
the nest. |
| Black Widow spiders inhabit most warmer regions of
the world to latitudes of about 45° north and south.
They can be found on the underside of rocks and ledges, in plants, debris
piles, woodpiles, etc. |
 |
| Black Widows spin erratic webs that lack shape and
form, and their silk is stronger than most other spiders.
Although not aggressive, she may bite when her web is disturbed or when
trapped in clothing or shoes. |
|
Black Widow bites are usually not deadly,
especially to adults because only a minute amount of the toxin is injected with
a single bite. The bite itself is
often not painful and may even go unnoticed.
The venom can cause abdominal pain similar to
appendicitis as well as pain to muscles or the soles of the feet.
Other symptoms include alternating salivation and dry-mouth, paralysis
of the diaphragm, profuse sweating and swollen eyelids.
Heart and lung failure may result in death.
Persons younger than 16 and older than 60, especially those
with a heart condition, may require a hospital stay.
Healthy people usually recover rapidly in two to five days.
|
|
Clean the site well with soap and water. Apply a cool compress over the bite and keep the affected
limb elevated to about heart level.
A snakebite kit such as the Sawyer Extractor™ is quite useful for
sucking out some of the venom. It also comes with a complete list of
instructions for treating a variety of other poisonous bites.
|
© Sawyer Products |
Related
Species
The Brown Widow Spider is not as
dangerous because it is less likely to bite and injects less poison.
It is found throughout the tropics, and has been introduced into Texas
and Florida.
The Red-back Spider is found in all parts of Australia except in the
hottest deserts and coldest mountains.
|
|
