Black Widow Spiders

Behavior and Habitat

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. However, when disturbed, Black Widow spiders may sometimes try to attack as a last resort. 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. 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.