Identify a Brown Widow Spider

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

Identifying a Brown Widow Spider

  1. Observe the color of the spider. Brown widows will be brown, tan, and gray with a mottled or spotted pattern.[1] Some may also have white or black markings on their backs.[2]
  2. 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.
  3. Take note of any dark bands on the legs. The front pair will be longer than the rest.[3]
  4. 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.
  5. 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 with more certainty. Here are some things to look for:[2][4]
    • Size: ½ inch (centimeters)
    • Color: Ivory, tan, or yellow
    • Shape: Round and spiky
    • Location: On the web
  6. 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]

Recognizing Brown Widow Spider Habitats

  1. 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][7][3]
    • Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas
    • California (particularly southern California), Colorado
    • Florida, Georgia, Hawaii
    • Louisiana (particularly New Orleans), Mississippi
    • Nevada, New Mexico
    • Oklahoma, South Carolina
    • Tennessee, Texas
  2. Know if brown widow spiders live in your country. Brown widow spiders are not just found in the United State; they can also be found in other countries, including:[8][9]
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Caribbean Islands
    • Cyprus
    • Japan
    • South Africa
  3. 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:[9]
    • 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
  4. Know when brown widow spiders come out. Unfortunately, brown widow spiders are active during all four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter.[3]

Treating Brown Widow Spider Bites

  1. 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:[10]
    • The bite hurts or stings a little
    • There is a small, red mark where you got bitten
  2. 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:[11][12]
    • Trouble with breathing or keeping conscious
    • Muscle cramps or tremors
    • Muscle tremors
    • Sweating
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Severe pain
    • Infections at the bite site, such as rashes, pus, or ulcers
  3. 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.[11]
  4. 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.[11]
    • 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.[13]
    • If the bite is red and won't stop itching, try an anti-itch cream, such as an hydrocortisone cream or a calamine cream.[13]



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.
  • Brown widows can be found in the most unexpected places, such as under the lip of a planter pot, and underneath mailboxes.
  • 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.
  • Use caulk to seal around window and door frames, and install window screens. This will prevent them from visiting your home.[8]
  • Consider using pesticides to kill bad infestations. Read the label on the pesticide carefully, especially if you have pets; most pesticides can be very dangerous for pets.[8]
  • Keep your home and yard clean. When cleaning, be sure to focus on the corners and undersides of furniture. The more clean your home and yard are, the less hospitable they will be to the spiders.[8]

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.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ University of California, Davis, Black Widow and OtherWidowSPiders
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Clemson University, Brown Widow Spiders
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Spiders, Latrodectus geometricus (Brown Widow Spider)
  4. ↑ University of California, Riverside, Identifying Brown Widow Spiders
  5. ↑ Venom Byte, Brown Widow
  6. ↑ Brown Widow Spider, Distribution
  7. ↑ University of Florida, Brown Widow Spiders
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Pest Net, Brown Widow
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 University of California, Riverside, Brown Widow Spider
  10. ↑ University of California, Riverside, [spiders.ucr.edu/brownwidow.html The Brown Widow in Southern California]
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Mayo Clinic, Spider Bites: First Aide
  12. ↑ WebMD, Insect Bites and Stings and Spider Bites - Check Your Symptoms
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 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)
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