The black widow is a spider that is known around the world. It has an iconic shape, coloration and marking, but did you know that there are several spider species that are often confused for black widows, and some species which are actually known as false black widows?

Brown widows

The widow family of spiders is fairly extended, and in it, you will find the brown widow. Brown widows have the same shape as a black widow, but are slightly smaller, dark brown, and with no markings or a light brown hourglass on the abdomen. These widows have a venom that is much stronger than that of the black widow, and they have fangs that can pierce the skin, but they inject such an insignificant amount of venom with each bite, that the bite just causes slight pain.

Red widows

Similarly to the brown widow, the red widow is very similar to the black widow with the exception of its color which is dark red/brownish-red. The females will have a semi-hourglass shaped marking, and they have a venom that is similar to that of the black widow in potency and the symptoms it causes.

False black widows

The false black widow is chocolate brown in coloration with a shiny sheen and no hourglass marking, but it has the same shape as a black widow. It is also slightly smaller than the black widow, and while it does have venom and will bite in self-defense, the bite is not considered a medical emergency.

Noble false black widows

The noble false black widow is very similar to the false black widow, but it has a cream-colored marking on its abdomen that resembles a skull. This spider also rarely bites people, but it has large fangs that can tear through the skin and lead to a wound that can get infected if it is not cleaned.

Other spiders that are often mistaken for black widows

There are several other spiders that are mistaken for black widows, even though they will not resemble them as much as the spiders on this list. However, it’s important to contact a pest control company whenever you notice a spider that resembles a black widow even if it does not have a marking, because male and young black widows can be dark brown in coloration and will not have the hourglass. If you have any questions about black widows, or if you suspect that you have an infestation, contact us today.

The black widow is a world-famous spider. We all know it for its iconic red hourglass marking on its abdomen and its dangerous bite. However, there are a few interesting facts about these spiders that are lesser known. Let’s take a look at each of them.

They are dangerous, but not the most dangerous in the world

Black widows have a dangerous bite that can lead to death, but in most cases, people will survive with medical treatment. The widows are also shy spiders that will only bite in self defense. There are several other spider species out there that have more powerful venom than the black widow, with Australia’s funnel spiders topping the list. However, the Australian redback spider, a close relative of the black widow, is considered to be more dangerous than the funnel spiders, because not only does it have a very potent venom, it is also much more likely to bite people.

There are many widow species out there

Not only are there many spider species in the larger widow family, there are also several types of black widows in the US, including the southern and northern black widow. When it comes to widows overall, you have red widows, brown widows, and even a group of spiders known as false black widows.

Young black widows have cannibalistic tendencies

The life of a black widow is marked by violence from the very beginning. After a group of black widow eggs hatch, the larger spiderlings will eat the smaller ones. However, if the spiderlings are all of similar sizes, they do not try to eat each other.

They have “spidey-senses”

Black widows have curved feet that are covered in bristles. This allows them to sense whenever an insect gets stuck on their webs, even though the black widow will build irregular, tangled, messy webs. There is logic to the madness however. The nets are built using multiple strands of silk, some of which are sticky, and some of which are meant to support the web. The widows will place their legs on the supporting strands of silk to sense everything that happens on the web.

What to do if you have black widows on your web

Black widows are certainly interesting spiders, but we definitely do not want them in our homes. If you have a black widow infestation, contact us today and we will help you get it under control.