Anyone know about Black Widow spiders?

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fleursdefouquet Ferndale, AR(Zone 7b) Jun 10, 2006

We've seen them around rock piles, etc. but not near the house. Last week we found one on the front porch. Our neighbors found one on their glass top patio table. Their daughter knocked one off her leg as she was on the riding mower. What's up with this? Should I be checking under the covers before climbing into bed at night?

Debra

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) Jun 10, 2006

Only if you have the Brown Recluse. That sneaky little devil will get under the bed covers or anyplace else it can hide. Black Widows are normally outdoor spiders, that love to hide under rocks, but will sometimes hide under pieces of wood that have been laying around for awhile. Be careful when you turn over a rock. They won't come after you, but if you grab one !!!

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fleursdefouquet Ferndale, AR(Zone 7b) Jun 10, 2006

You're right about the Brown Recluse, Farmerdill. And did you know they could jump? Oh, yes! I'm way more afraid of spiders than snakes.

After starting this thread, I developed a theory about why that spider was on our front porch. I found another spider there - one we see often. Don't know what kind it is, but it's dropped there by dirt dobbers. They paralize them and keep them alive in the mud nest until their babies hatch and eat them. I've never seen any other spider besides this one particulat type (bust open a dirt dobber nest and you'll find lots of them), but that could explain why these Black Widows were found in such unusual places. The one on our porch was not alive, but not really dead either. Maybe it was paralized.

Well, it doesn't explain the one on our neighbor's leg.....but I'd like to believe that's where ours came from. Don't think I could handle an infestation of BW spiders.

Debra

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mdvaden Beaverton, OR Jun 12, 2006

Won't one of those two spiders lodge itself in your ear at night, as far as it's rump allows it to penetrate?

(Just kidding)

We just moved south in Oregon from Beaverton to near Jacksonville, where black widow and ticks are more common.

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Bubba_MoCity Missouri City, TX Jun 15, 2006

They are very common in the basements in Denver, CO. Fortunately the realtors and public service announcements advise newcomers to beware.

Had a huge one at our first house in Houston - cat wanted to play with it when it moved on its web. Grabbed the cat, then a broom - no more black widow.

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fleursdefouquet Ferndale, AR(Zone 7b) Jun 15, 2006

Yea, Bubba! My hero!

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