Black Widow spiders have a nasty reputation for their dangerous bite. But while many people know to fear a Black Widow bite, few know what the symptoms of the bite are. Since you may not see the spider when it bites, it’s important to recognize the symptoms early and respond appropriately by seeking medical treatment.

Symptoms of a Black Widow Spider Bite

According to the Mayo Clinic, these are the usual symptoms of a Black Widow spider bite:

Swelling

Expect to see swelling around the bite. It may spread into your abdomen, back, and chest.

Cramping

You may experience excessive stiffness and abdominal cramping, often mistaken for appendicitis.

Nausea

Finally, you may start vomiting, tremoring, and sweating. These can happen alone or in combination with others.

Where Do Black Widow Spiders Hide?

When indoors, Black Widows can be found lurking in dark, undisturbed places, such as behind or underneath large pieces of furniture. Outside, you may find them near wood piles, underneath shrubs, or near holes dug by other animals. Black Widow’s webs generally appear like an unplanned and dense maze, unlike orb weavers, which produce intricate dartboard patterned webs.

What Black Widow Spiders Look Like

Black widows have a distinct appearance that’s notable for the red hourglass marking that’s situated beneath their abdomens. The remainder of the black widow has a shiny black appearance. Black widows can span 3-13 millimeters in size. Brown recluse spiders are notable for having a violin-shaped mark directly on the dorsum towards the front of the spider. While much of the spider is comprised of a light brown color, the violin-shaped mark typically comes in a darker shade of brown.

Spider Extermination Services

If you have Black Widows (or other undesirable spiders) on your property, you’ll be happy to know that you have options for their removal. At Bug-A-Way, we offer human and pet-friendly treatments for spiders, so you can live your life without fear of a nasty spider bite.

Call us today to learn about our spider extermination services: (417) 624-2999.

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