The black widow spider is a figure that is most known and dreaded by the arachnid in the US. The spider is of a lustrous black color, and its abdomen has a red hourglass shape on the underside. In addition to the above, the spider is mentioned as the scariest in the US. Due to their fascination with the red hourglass spider, recent black widow spider pictures, and the information on dealing with the black widow spider nest, local families can be sure that their homes will still be a haven for them, learning the habits of these spiders.
The black widow spider bite symptoms
The black widow spider bite symptoms and the way to act may give you comfort, but ignoring them can be dangerous. The sensation of the bite can be like a slight pinprick, or you may not feel it initially. However, within an hour of the bite, you can develop symptoms that start in one place but later spread all over your body as dull muscle pain. The area around the bite may become hot, red, and perhaps, at times, it will even look like a bullseye. Mostly, two very small puncture marks could be the only visible signs of a black widow spider bite.
Below is a list of the common symptoms:
- Within the first 8 h, muscle pain and stiffness are experienced
- Feeling of sickness or vomiting
- Breathing difficulties or a feeling of tightness in the chest
- Very strong pain in the belly and muscle spasms
- Profuse sweating
- Feeling of being weak, shivering, or trembling
- Eyelids that have puffiness and rash
The situation gets worse when the symptoms resemble a heart attack, which include, among others, increased blood pressure and heart rate. Fatal situations rarely occur; thus, emergency care is necessary only if the victim is a child, aged, or suffers from chronic illnesses.
Black Widow Spider Web: Where and Why They Build
The black widow spider web is a perfect example of nature at its best; the web looks like a mess, but it can fulfill specific tasks. The webs were normally carried on in charred areas within the house and also outside. The most common places are:
- Basements, garages, and crawl spaces
- Sheds, barns, and outdoor toilets
- Woodpiles, debris piles, and under rocks
- Around foundation cracks, window wells, and under patio furniture
Black widow spiders are the ones that select these particular places, and they have their reasons:
- People use these places less, therefore, there is always a need to cause the least possible disturbance to the area
- The insects that are the main diet of the spiders are constantly looking for such places where they could hide and get food, thus landing in these places in great numbers.
- The roughness of the surfaces and the crevices form the perfect structure for the spiders to anchor their irregular and twisted webs
- These places, in addition, give them the possibility to be perfectly hidden while the spider’s nest and the egg sacs are there.
They are not the classic round and regular shape, but rather they are in a messy and three-dimensional form, which is very effective for the trapping of small insects that are crawling insects. The female black widow spider is generally found resting in the middle of the web upside down, and she stays there until she catches something moving close to her.
How to Get Rid of a Black Widow Spider
A black widow spider nest or infestation can be a real pain to get rid of. However, besides prevention, you also have to do targeted treatment to get rid of the black widows. Follow these points to keep your home safe:
- Declutter and Clean: Dispose of any dust, firewood, and other debris and items on your property and home. Reduce spider webs and spider egg sacs by doing regular dusting and vacuuming corners, under furniture, and inside storage/basement rooms.
- Wear Protective Gear: Always wear protective gear at the time of working with firewood, in he yard or cleaning places because these places can contain black widows.
- Seal Entry Points: Fix cracks in your home, put in screens, and use door sweeps to stop spiders
- Trim Vegetation: Regularly trim weeds and shrubs away from the foundation so that it is not a good place for spiders to hide, and also bugs cannot go there.
- Use Insecticides: Spray liquid residual insecticides on the foundation, window frames, doorways, and other entry points. Wind and dust insecticides work well because they cover voids and inaccessible places such as the attic and crawl spaces.
- Remove Webs: A cobweb duster or vacuum can used to continually remove black widow spider web and the egg sacs thereof.
In case you come across a black widow spider nest or believe that there is a big infestation, perhaps getting a professional pest control service to do the job in a safe and thorough manner would be a good idea.
Conclusion
The black widow spider is a very good example of a creature that has many parts of the United States that are its home, but it is also one that is potentially dangerous. Seeing black widow spider pictures is very useful for recognition. Understanding what and where the bites are will help you prevent exposure and know when to be careful. Keeping every surface clean, sealing gaps inside, and eradicating pests if they appear can help prevent them from living in your home. It’s important to check for spiders, always pay attention, and be more careful around black widow spiders.