With a shiny black body, a bright red mark that’s shaped like an hourglass, and with their tangled, three-dimensional web, they look incredibly scary. And much has been written about spiders in Florida, particularly black widow spiders. After all, this is one spider that even looks dangerous. Unfortunately, not everything you’ve heard about this spider is true, and some of it could spell disaster should you ever actually encounter one in your home or yard. Learning what’s real and what’s not may help you treat these spiders throughout your property.
Myth: Females Kill and Eat Their Mates
Fact: There are a few different species of widow spiders around the world, and some of them do kill their mates, but the black widow you’re likely to see in and around Florida isn’t usually cannibalistic. It does happen, but much of the research on this issue took place in a lab setting, not out in the wild, which may have led to some of the cannibal rumors floating around out these spiders. Most male black widow spiders actually survive to mate multiple times in Florida.
Myth: One Bite Will Kill You
Fact: Most people survive after being bitten by a black widow spider. Their venom does contain chemicals that make people sick, and within fifteen minutes of a bite, you’ll usually feel a dull muscle ache across your body. The symptoms usually last a few days, and you’ll want to at least talk to a doctor if you’ve been bitten. Often a doctor will offer you treatment to ensure that death isn’t a consequence of a single bite, so it’s important to go ahead and reach out to a medical professional after a bite. Death, however, rarely occurs after these bites. In fact, of the more than 25,000 bites reported to the CDC each year, statistically speaking, black widows cause less than a single death per year. Naturally, children, the immunocompromised, and the elderly are at a much greater risk of problems in the event of a black widow bite, and that makes fast-thinking key in that situation. One bite, however, won’t usually spell the terrifying death so many have suggested.
Myth: They’re Aggressive
Fact: While the last myth had some basis in fact, this one is just wrong. Black widow spiders won’t bite you unless they’re threatened. In fact, you usually have to push against one to get it to bite. One study had scientists literally pushing a black widow without a single bite. If you’ve seen stories on the news about black windows lurking in grocery store produce or pillowcases, you’ve seen stories where people were coming in very close contact and threatening the spider. In most cases, they won’t bite you even when they’re threatened slightly. Most bites come into play when a black widow is lurking in an area where it’s tough for us to spot it. You can usually avoid a bite in that case if you’ll check your work gloves before you put them on, wear work gloves when you’re in the yard, and closely inspect any areas before you crawl around or grab an item off a shelf in storage that isn’t at eye level. If a black widow spider sees you, it will likely scurry away before it has a chance to bite you.
Black widow spiders exist throughout the state, and it is important to keep them out of your yard and home if at all possible, no matter what the myths may say. Fortunately, we can help with all of your spider pest control needs, whether you’re infested with black widows or another problem entirely. Give us a call today to learn more.