Order: Araneae

Family: Theridiidae

Black Widow spiders get their common name because of the myth that the female eats the male after mating. Although this can happen in nature, this is a rare occurrence.

Description: Adult female black widow spiders are about 1/2 inch in length and have a round abdomen about 1/4-3/8 inch in diameter. The female spider is mostly black with reddish markings on her abdomen. Males are about half the size of the female.

Biology: These spiders spin webs in sheltered places and hang from it in an upside-down position. The spider web is used to catch prey. Black widow spiders are nocturnal-tending to be active at night. Their bite is venomous which leaves two small red spots where the fangs punctured the skin. Seek immediate medical care if you suspect a black widow bite.

Habits: Black widow spiders will live indoors or outdoors. However, they prefer protected and seldom used areas such as barns, sheds and woodpiles. Their webs are approximately 12 inches in diameter. Indoors they are found around cluttered areas in seldom used places such as garages, basements and crawl spaces.