Spiders

Black Widow Spider

The black widow spider is widely feared because its bite results in severe pain that may take several days to subside. Such bites are rarely fatal but small children and elderly persons are at risk.

Black widow spiders construct irregular, scaffold-type webs usually near the ground level. These webs are almost always constructed in a protected site such as among items piled together, beneath boards, in firewood, and between boxes.

Black widows eat any insect they can capture. It is not true that the female always consumes her mate after mating, but it does frequently occur.

Brown Recluse Spider

The key identifying characteristics are the six eyes arranged in three pairs at the front of the head area and the fiddle-shaped marking on the back.

Any corner inside or outside is suitable for brown recluse spiders to construct their webs. These spiders are more common in garages, crawl spaces, and basements, as these areas are less disturbed and tend to harbor more insects.

Like most spiders, the brown recluse spider does not seek to bite people. The bite is usually accidental.