Quck answer
Yes, the venom of a black widow spider can be deadly to humans. However, fatalities are rare due to the availability of antivenom. Symptoms of a black widow spider bite include severe pain, muscle cramps, and spasms, which can spread throughout the body. If you suspect you have been bitten by a black widow spider, seek medical attention immediately. Prevention is key when it comes to avoiding black widow spiders, as they are commonly found in dark, cluttered areas such as garages and woodpiles.
Wild Animals
The female black widow spider is more prone to biting humans than the male. Mark Kostich/Getty Images
David Nelsen, a biology associate professor at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee, used to crawl under the slide at the elementary school playground to find the intricate web of the Latrodectus hesperus, also known as the western black widow spider. He would identify the web by the messy silk threads that these creatures typically spin. Using his long forceps, he could catch the spider before it escaped and put it into his plastic bag with dozens of other black widows waiting for research purposes.
Despite the fact that a bite from the shiny black spider can cause painful muscle spasms within minutes, and doctors might not have the antivenom to treat him if he went to the emergency room in pain, Nelsen was not worried. He was getting to know these “sexy little organisms” intimately because they played a prominent role in his doctoral research. He wanted to understand them better.
So why do people find black widow spiders so scary, and how did they get their name?
Why Are They Called Black Widows?
Nelsen chose black widows for his research because “they’re mysterious and dangerous,” he says. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the black widow is one of the world’s deadliest spiders, with approximately 2,600 black widow bites reported to the U.S. National Poison Data System each year.
However, the name black widow does not originate from the spider’s ability to kill humans but from the cannibalistic behavior observed in the species during copulation. A male and female black widow were collected by an entomologist and placed in the same container. When the entomologist returned to check on them, he found that the female widows had eaten the males.
This type of “spider cannibalism” is not uncommon in the spider world, according to Nelsen. It typically involves the female eating the male before, during, or after copulation. However, it is infrequently seen in black widows that live in North America. In nature, male black widows usually escape quickly after copulating, which they were not able to do when caged with females in a laboratory setting. Research also shows that male black widows can sense chemicals in the female’s web that indicate whether she has recently eaten. They avoid hungry females, just in case.
Black Widow Spider Facts
This male black widow (Latrodectus mactans) was found under a rock in Pine Mountain Wilderness, Prescott National Forest, Arizona Tanthalas39/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0
Black widows build their tangled cobwebs in dark, dry places such as wood piles, barns, greenhouses, basements, outhouses and latrines, hollow stumps, under lawn furniture and playground equipment, and dense vegetation. During the day, they hide in tiny crevices or rodent holes and come out onto their webs at night, typically hanging upside down and waiting for a fly or grasshopper to get trapped in their web’s sticky threads.
When a bug gets trapped, the black widow spider wraps it in silk and injects it with digestive juices to liquify it for mealtime. The resulting bug juice is then sucked up by the spider.
Identifying characteristics of female black widow spiders include their long legs and a shiny black body with a well-known hourglass shape on their abdomens in various colors, such as red, red-orange or yellow. Males are smaller and lighter in color, with red or pink spots. Black widow spiders are not aggressive and will only bite if touched, trapped or sat upon.
- 32 species of spiders in the Latrodectus genus are considered true widows, with black widows found in every continent except Antarctica. The Western, Southern and Northern black widows are mainly found in the southern and western regions of the United States.
Black Widow Spider Bites
Black widows are not aggressive, but bites may occur accidentally, such as when startled in a gardening glove. Females are more likely to envenomate humans with their potent venom, which contains neurotoxins called latrotoxins. Symptoms of a black widow bite include pain, swelling, muscle contractions, labored breathing, racing heart, nausea, and sweating or chills. While it’s possible to die from a black widow bite, it’s unlikely, and serious complications are more common in young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immunity.
Despite their reputation, black widows play an important role in the ecosystem by feeding on many insect species, including mosquitoes and flies. It’s best to leave them alone and not attempt to use bug spray or swat them dead.
If you experience minor bites, simply wash the affected area with soap and water and take an over-the-counter pain reliever. But if you encounter severe symptoms as mentioned above, seek medical help. Medical practitioners will address your pain and administer the FDA-approved black widow antivenom if it’s available to ease your discomfort within a few hours of administration. However, they may be reluctant to use it due to reports of severe allergic reactions and other harmful effects. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be hospitalized, let alone die.
It’s noteworthy that Nelsen discovered that black widow spiders will move away if you pick their webs. If hiding isn’t possible, they will play dead. If they can’t escape and you touch them, they will use their fangs to bite you. However, if you gently pull one of their legs with featherlight tweezers, they will use their spinneret to throw a sticky strand of silk at you. This silk acts as a defense mechanism and looks like a pearl necklace. It can stick to predators, dry quickly, and give the widow extra time to flee. Nelsen says that nobody has formally studied this behavior despite others observing it.
FAQ
1. What is a Black Widow Spider?
A Black Widow Spider is a venomous spider that is found in North and South America. It is known for its distinctive appearance, with a shiny black body and a red hourglass shape on its abdomen. Female Black Widow Spiders are larger than males and are known for their aggressive behavior. They are typically found in dark, secluded areas such as garages, crawl spaces, and woodpiles.
2. Is a Black Widow Spider Poisonous?
Yes, a Black Widow Spider is poisonous. Its venom contains neurotoxins that affect the nervous system. The venom is not usually life-threatening to humans, but it can cause severe symptoms such as muscle pain, spasms, and cramps. In rare cases, the venom can cause respiratory distress or even death.
3. What Happens if You Get Bitten by a Black Widow Spider?
If you get bitten by a Black Widow Spider, you will usually experience pain at the site of the bite within the first hour. The pain may spread to other parts of the body and you may experience muscle cramps and spasms. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and sweating. If you suspect that you have been bitten by a Black Widow Spider, seek medical attention immediately.
4. How Can You Avoid Black Widow Spider Bites?
You can avoid Black Widow Spider bites by taking precautions when working or playing in areas where they are commonly found. Wear gloves and long-sleeved shirts when handling woodpiles or other dark, secluded areas. Use caution when reaching into dark areas such as crawl spaces or garages. If you suspect that there may be Black Widow Spiders in an area, use a flashlight to inspect the area before reaching in.
5. Can You Treat a Black Widow Spider Bite?
If you are bitten by a Black Widow Spider, seek medical attention immediately. There is no specific antivenom for Black Widow Spider bites, but treatment may include pain medication, muscle relaxants, and intravenous fluids. In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary.
6. Are Black Widow Spiders Dangerous?
While Black Widow Spiders are venomous and can cause severe symptoms, they are not usually life-threatening to healthy adults. However, young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems may be at higher risk for severe reactions to the venom. It is important to take precautions when working or playing in areas where Black Widow Spiders are commonly found to avoid being bitten.
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