The Fiesty Widow
By Andrea Peck
The western black widow spider—a native species—is widespread and is the spider posing the greatest threat to humans in the Western United States.
– Master Gardener website
Last week we discussed the shady character known as the brown recluse. But, this week we happen on an eight-legger of another color. This spider's cloak is of a blackness that appears more synthetic than biological. That dark sheen is broken only by a shocking red hourglass that suggests that your time may indeed be up.
You have met her. She is the black widow (Latrodectus hesperus). More specifically, she or he is called the western black widow.
The female is enough to make the most stalwart of men balk.
As the most dangerous North American spider, her venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake's. The widow's venom is a neurotoxin. Essentially, it creates a scenario where your muscles are in a continual state of contraction until the toxin wears off.
From the Master Gardener website:
Bite victims might suffer from some but not all of the following symptoms: rigid stomach muscles, which some medical professionals have misdiagnosed as appendicitis; sweating, sometimes of just the bitten body part, such as a bite to the hand that results in only the arm sweating profusely; pain that can be local, radiating, or regional; urine retention; and—less commonly—numbness, agitation, fever, and patchy paralysis. Another symptom is bite victims will move or rock back and forth incessantly to try to lessen the pain from the venom injection process. However, these symptoms are the most severe manifestation; many black widow bite symptoms merely resemble the flu. Black widow bites don't cause conspicuous swelling, necrosis, or deterioration of tissue around the bite.
Despite this long, heinous list, most of her targets recover unscathed.
Unless you are an insect. Or her husband.
The black widow's notorious name is no joke. The mating ritual of the spider is equal parts death and disturbing. She will, without hesitation, rid herself of her beloved once mating ceases. Forget the honeymoon for this gal, she is a lone wolf.
Insects should be equally frightened of her. Poor little Buggie may be loping along oblivious to The Lady when her fangs spring into action. She will puncture Lunch with digestive enzymes that make for a nice slushy later.
I have to admit, just reading about her is creepy.
I'll steel myself and stick to the facts. Believe it or not, the black widow can live from 1 to 3 years. The spider is noticeable with a large bulbous abdomen and of course, the distinctive coloring. She is about ½” in size, not including her long legs. That infamous inky color may appear brown if the female has become stretched because she is very well fed. The red hourglass may sometimes look more like two triangles separated by a space or even an abbreviated portion of red. Socially retiring, this spider prefers to spin her silky, chaotic-style web away from people. Webs can be found in garages and outbuildings, under rocks, in leaf litter and in almost any out-of-the-way locale. Coming into contact with the web may make you shrivel – it has a strong and distinctive ripping or crunching sound.
Statistics show that the human mortality rate is less than 1 percent, but a bite should be taken seriously. An antivenom serum is available through a physician, but it must be administered as soon as possible after the bite occurs. The antivenom is made from a horse serum that can (in rare cases) cause anaphylactic shock, so if symptoms are minor, your doctor may encourage you to muddle through without assistance. An ice pack at the bite location is helpful.
Protecting yourself involves reducing clutter. It seems we always end on this note! Consistent vacuuming inside the home discourages the black widow. She really wants to be left alone. Don't forget those fun spots, the little nooks and crannies behind bookcases, couches and under beds. Outside, it proves wise to seal up “stuff.” If you use your garage to harbor seasonal clothing, accessories or gardening supplies, you may want to pack materials in impenetrable bins and plastic bags.
Finally, I will leave you with a story. I used to ride horses and I kept all of my equipment in a metal shed which I did not visit daily. Every time I visited (a couple of times a week) I would open the door and have a lovely visitor of red and black. I was never able to capture and kill her so, after the third time, I decided to give the shed to her and use a completely sealable plastic trash bin for my equipment.
We parted on good terms and I have not seen her since.
For more about the widow family and the lifecycle of the black widow:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74149.html