We have not seen as many Black Widow spiders the last 10 years or so that we would see 20 or 30 years ago. However, I have begun seeing a few in the last 3 or 4 years. They seem to be making a come back. The Black Widow is the most poisonous spider in the tri-state area. The above drawing is a good example of what this spider looks like. She is a very shiny black, medium-sized spider. She hangs upside down in her web exposing the very bright red "hour-glass" marking.
I found one about a week ago in my back yard. They tend to build their webs in an area that is not generally disturbed. Next to our thrash containers, I have 4 rolls of roofing stacked against the fence. I heard a buzzing sound like a carpenter bee might make, so I looked for it and found it caught in a spider web. Then I saw that familiar bright red marking of the Black Widow... she was dutifully wrapping that bee up with her web. The bee did not stand a chance despite it being almost twice the size of the spider!
If you find a Black Widow, be very careful and warn others of where she was spotted. Although, she is the only female around, I have found as many as 8 within a 2 foot area. She is a very dangerous spider with her bite being very painful and can be fatal. I strongly suggest having a pest control professional exterminate Black Widow spiders. ACCA's professionals are trained and experienced to find and eliminate spiders where ever they are located. Give us a call at 812-479-8905 to provide you some peace of mind from this un-welcome spider.
