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The brown widow spider (Latrodectus geometricus) is native to South Africa and was first discovered in the United States in 1935. This spider is also commonly known as the grey widow, brown button and geometric button spider. While it is true that brown widow spiders are highly venomous to their prey, they are very timid and rarely bite humans; when they do bite, they don’t inject all their venom making them less harmful. Use this article to learn how to identify a brown widow spider and what to do when bitten by one.
Steps
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Observe the color of the spider. Brown widows will be brown, tan, and gray with a mottled or spotted pattern. Some may also have white or black markings on their backs. [1] X Research source
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Look for the hourglass marking. Like black widows, brown widows have a very distinctive hourglass marking on the underside of its abdomen. This marking, however, is yellowish to bright orange.Advertisement
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Take note of any dark bands on the legs. The front pair will be longer than the rest. [2] X Research source
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Check the size. The females will be 1 to 1 ½ inches (centimeters) long, including the legs. The males will be ½ to ¾ of an inch (centimeters) long.
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Search for any round, spiky egg sacs. Brown widow spiders can look similar to certain species of black widow spiders, and their brown color can make them hard to distinguish from other spiders. Knowing what a brown widow's egg sac looks like can help you identify it more accurately. Here are some things to look for: [3] X Research source [4] X Research source
- Size: ½ inch (centimeters)
- Color: Ivory, tan, or yellow
- Shape: Round and spiky
- Location: On the web
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Look for cobwebs. Brown widow spider webs look different from the traditional lace-like spider web. Instead, they are three-dimensional (instead of flat) and cobwebby. [5] X Research source
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Know if brown widow spiders live in your state. Brown widow spiders are typically found in the southern part of the United States. Here is a list of the states that they can be found in: [6] X Research source [7] X Research source
- Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas
- California (particularly southern California), Colorado
- Florida, Georgia, Hawaii
- Louisiana (particularly New Orleans), Mississippi
- Nevada, New Mexico
- Oklahoma, South Carolina
- Tennessee, Texas
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Brown widow spiders prefer secluded areas. Like most spiders, brown widow spiders prefer dark, less-frequented places, such as woody areas. They can also be found in urban areas and around your home and backyard. Here are some places where you are likely to find brown widow spiders: [10] X Research source
- Around garden, including under railings and inside empty flower pots
- In closets, attics, and garages, including inside boxes and under handles
- Around your house, particularly under eaves, and behind window shutters
- Underneath furniture, both patio and indoor
- Within folds of linen and clothing
- Inside shoes
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Know when brown widow spiders come out. Unfortunately, brown widow spiders are active during all four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. [11] X Research source
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Be able to identify a brown widow bite. Fortunately, brown widow spiders are not able to inject as much venom as some other species, so their bites are rarely serious. Here is what you should expect from a brown widow bite: [16] X Research source University of California, Riverside, [spiders.ucr.edu/brownwidow.html The Brown Widow in Southern California]
- The bite hurts or stings a little
- There is a small, red mark where you got bitten
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Know when to see a doctor. Sometimes, the body can have a far more severe reaction to a spider bite. If you experience any of the following symptoms, visit your doctor immediately: [13] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source [18] X Research source WebMD, Insect Bites and Stings and Spider Bites - Check Your Symptoms
- Trouble with breathing or keeping conscious
- Muscle cramps or tremors
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe pain
- Infections at the bite site, such as rashes, pus, or ulcers
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Take care of the bite by cleaning it and applying an ice pack. Clean the bite using soap and warm water; be sure to rinse it well. Elevate the bitten area, if possible, and place an ice pack over it; you can also use a cloth soaked in cold water. Washing the bite will help prevent infection while keeping it cool will keep the swelling down. [15] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Take some over-the-counter medications. Spider bites can be itchy and uncomfortable, and brown widow bites are no exception. If you get bitten, consider taking some medication for it:
- Consider taking a pill, such as an acetaminophen, antihistamine, or ibuprofen. [16] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- You can also use an anti-itch or anesthetic spray. Try to choose one that has benzocaine in it; this will help reduce the itching and pain. [17] X Research source
- If the bite is red and won't stop itching, try an anti-itch cream, such as an hydrocortisone cream or a calamine cream. [18] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I prevent spiders from entering our home?Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. Since 2016, Chris has been specializing in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.To prevent them from entering your home, start by inspecting the exterior of your house. Remove any items that could attract spiders, such as wood piles, dense vegetation, and long-stored objects, as these areas provide ideal hiding spots for spiders. Also, clear a perimeter of at least one foot around your home, keeping it free of vegetation and stored items. This one-foot barrier helps deter spiders from making their way inside your home.
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QuestionAre there widow spiders in the UK?Community AnswerNo. Brown widows live in more tropical places. The UK is way too cold for most tropical spiders.
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QuestionWill I die if bitten?Community AnswerThere are no documented cases of deaths from a brown widow. Even though they have a similar venom to the black widow, they cannot inject nearly as much, and their bites are much weaker, reducing the chance that the venom spreads.
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Tips
- It is wise to wear gloves and shake out any shoes or articles of clothing that have been stored in your attic or your garage before you wear them or bring them inside. Otherwise, you may inadvertently bring the spider(s) indoors.Thanks
- Be extremely careful if you have children around, and do not allow them to touch or go near anything that may seem like the perfect hiding place for a spider.Thanks
- Brown widows can be found in the most unexpected places, such as under the lip of a planter pot, and underneath mailboxes.Thanks
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Warnings
- A brown widow spider is quite shy and it will most likely avoid any contact with you. This spider tends to retreat from humans and will remain very still until it senses the threat is gone. However, if you provoke a brown widow, it will probably bite you.Thanks
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about entomology, check out our in-depth interview with Brandon Runyon .
References
- ↑ Clemson University Brown Widow Spiders
- ↑ Spiders, Latrodectus geometricus (Brown Widow Spider)
- ↑ Clemson University, Brown Widow Spiders
- ↑ University of California, Riverside, Identifying Brown Widow Spiders
- ↑ Venom Byte, Brown Widow
- ↑ University of Florida, Brown Widow Spiders
- ↑ Spiders, Latrodectus geometricus (Brown Widow Spider)
- ↑ Pest Net, Brown Widow
- ↑ University of California, Riverside, Brown Widow Spider
- ↑ University of California, Riverside, Brown Widow Spider
- ↑ Spiders, Latrodectus geometricus (Brown Widow Spider)
- ↑ University of California, Riverside, [spiders.ucr.edu/brownwidow.html The Brown Widow in Southern California]
- ↑ Mayo Clinic, Spider Bites: First Aide
- ↑ WebMD, Insect Bites and Stings and Spider Bites - Check Your Symptoms
- ↑ Mayo Clinic, Spider Bites: First Aide
- ↑ Mayo Clinic, Spider Bites: First Aide
- ↑ WebMD, Insect Bites and Stings and Spider Bites - Home Treatment
- ↑ WebMD, Insect Bites and Stings and Spider Bites - Home Treatment
- Lorus and Margery Milne, Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects & Spiders, (New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1980)
- Ken Preston-Mafham, Spiders, The new compact study guide and identifier, (Edison, NJ: Chartwell Books, 1998)
- Arthur V. Evans, National wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders, (New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, 2008)
About This Article
Article Summary
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To identify a brown widow spider, start by seeing if it’s brown, tan, and gray with a mottled or spotted pattern, which is the spider’s typical coloring. Additionally, check for dark bands on the spider’s legs, and front legs that are longer than the others. You should also try to get a look at the underside of the spider’s abdomen, which is marked by an hourglass shape that’s yellowish to bright orange. It can also help to look for the spider’s web, which will appear 3-dimensional and cobwebby, rather than flat and lacy, if it belongs to a brown widow. To learn how to treat a brown widow spider bite, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I live in Florida. I went outside in the dark to look for my dog and turned my patio lights on. I saw something hanging from a spider web about six feet from the ground from a palm tree. I used my flashlight on it and it was a huge spider. I went on this site to find out what kind of spider it was. It was a huge brown widow spider. Needless to say, I killed it even though I know they eat a lot of bugs. Spiders creep me out more than anything." ..." more
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"I live in Florida. I went outside in the dark to look for my dog and turned my patio lights on. I saw something hanging from a spider web about six feet from the ground from a palm tree. I used my flashlight on it and it was a huge spider. I went on this site to find out what kind of spider it was. It was a huge brown widow spider. Needless to say, I killed it even though I know they eat a lot of bugs. Spiders creep me out more than anything."
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"I found some strange spider egg sacs in my back yard, along with what I assume was the mother. I noticed that the spider looked similar to a black widow, but there were obvious differences. I Googled "what is the brown spider that resembles a black widow?" And I was brought to this page. It quickly gave me all the info I'll ever need, so thanks!"
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"This helped me to identify the brown widow from the black widow by the egg sac. The brown has little spikes all over it. Luckily I saw the eggs first. In a dimly lit place the only way to tell the difference is the egg sacs. I found two brown widows under the hood of my car and in the door hinge of my mother's car. They must like to travel."
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"I recognized the brown widow from a photo in a National Geographic magazine. I've met a few of them on my patio (Southern California). I ignored them, but will no longer. Your article was very helpful in identifying their egg sacs. Thanks."
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"I have a black widow hiding under the refrigerator in my kitchen. I also have two cats, and don't want to use a harsh poison to kill it. Diatemacious earth, vinegar, etc are toxic-free solutions I will try."
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