BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS
Laterodectus mactans
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Appearance:
The southern black widow spider is
shiny black and the female usually has a red spot or hourglass shaped
mark on the underside of the abdomen.
Size:
The body is about 3/4-inch long and the abdomen is about 3/8-inch in diameter.
Behavior:
Black widow spiders are often feared because of their painful bite.
Children and the elderly are most as risk from complications due to a
bite. However, such bites are rarely fatal.
Black widows are actually timid and solitary. The only social life they
exhibit is when they mate. They are cannibalistic and nocturnal. During
the daylight hours, this spider spends its time in the silken tunnel of
its web. The female will hang upside down displaying the red hourglass
as a visible warning signal. They feed on insects and arthropods, and
have an average lifespan of one year.
Habitat:
Black widow spiders are common around wood piles, and are frequently
encountered when homeowners carry firewood into the home. they can also
be found under eaves, in boxes, outdoor toilets, meter boxes, and other
secluded areas. This widow spider is essentially a southern species,
but ranges as for north as Massachusetts. It prefers dark sheltered
spots close to the ground, but will spread web snares over plants.
Bite Signs and Symptoms:
Black widow spider venom is neurotoxic, and will block the transmission
of nervous impulses. A bitten human suffers from a painful rigidity in
the abdominal wall muscles; and while the bite may be serious, it is
rarely fatal. The bite can be distinguished by the characteristic
double puncture marks.
Control:
Do you live in Southern California and think that this spider may be invading your
home? Trump Pest Control offers specialty treatments
designed to control and eliminate this pest!
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(877) 270-2847 Office (877) 962-3794 Fax
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