Black Widows in Arizona

A common misconception about black widows is that they are always black with a red hour glass shaped spot on their stomach.  The truth is, black widows can come in many different shapes and sizes.  Pictured above is a more unconventional black widow spider that was found here in Arizona.  This black widow has stripes and an almost orange looking spot on it’s belly.

People react differently to spider bites, and some spiders are extremely venomous, whereas, others are not.  Black widow bites can be dangerous, but not necessarily deadly.  If you suspect that you have been bitten by a black widow, you should contact poison control,  and they can decide if medical assistance is necessary.  Also, catching the spider that bit you, will allow doctors to better decide what kind of treatment is necessary.

Preventative pest control can help avoid situations like this.