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One of the most feared pests in the Greater Houston area is the Black Widow Spider.
The Black Widow is easily identified by the reddish hour glass marking on it’s abdomen. Sometimes this marking may appear to be more of a large dot. The body of a Black Widow is about 1/2″ long.
The black widow’s bite has been reported to be 15x more venomous than the bite of a rattlesnake.
Symptoms of a Black Widow bite in humans include muscle aches, nausea, and breathing difficulty. In most instances however, most black widow spider bites cause no serious damage.
In rare instances, a bite can be fatal. This is usually when small children, elderly, or previously ill are involved.
If you suspect a Black Widow spider bite, it is best to visit your doctor immediately.
The good thing is that these spiders are not aggressive and bite only in self-defense. The most common bite is when a person sits or lays on them.
The Black Widow is commonly found outside in more secluded areas such as under rocks, woodpiles, sheds, and garages. Occasionally the spider will make it’s way into the home and will be found in basements and crawl spaces.
