Black Widow Spiders

Posted on August 12, 2007
Filed Under Other Stuff |


I’m not sure if it has something to do with the wet weather we had in the early part of summer or what, but we have seen a very large number of black widow spiders this year! And I really am not too fond of the little creatures!

My wife came in house this morning with her camera in hand and said, “you’ve got to come take a picture of this cool spider web out in the shop”. So I grabbed my camera and tripod and head out there. Sure enough, there is this really strange, multi-dimensional spider web connected to some gardening tools. And the sunlight was coming through the window and hitting it just right to create a really eerie looking design.

So I snapped a few pictures and kept looking at them to see if I got the shot I wanted. Finally in one of the pictures I see this spider which I hadn’t noticed in the others? So I peer into the web to see this fine specimen of a black widow! As much as I dislike spiders, I have to admit that the black widow is pretty. Shiny black with that unmistakable red “hourglass” shape on the bottom.

Black WidowAs I said…they’re pretty, but I’m afraid I can’t tolerate their existence in my space. This one met it’s demise soon after the photo-shoot. I apologize in advance to any arachno-lovers out there, (sorry…don’t know what the official term is for a spider lover).

I’m certain thats not the last one of these little beasts I’ll see this year. Hopefully we can keep our distance from each other and everything will be fine!

Comments

19 Responses to “Black Widow Spiders”

  1. Angela on August 14th, 2007 1:08 pm

    Thank you, Chris, for getting such a good closeup of one! None of the pictures I’ve ever seen of a black widow show enough detail for me to be able to figure out what I should watch for.

    So far I haven’t seen more than the normal amount of spiders, but this morning a woodpecker cut loose on the exterior wall where my desk sits here in my office. Needless to say, pens, pencils, paperclips, paper and what-have-you went flying as I flew from my chair. LOL!

    Need to get MY camera out and see if Woody has an ivory beak.

  2. Chris on August 14th, 2007 2:03 pm

    Hi Angela - Yes…keep an eye out for the little boogers! They give me the heeby-jeebies!

    Thats funny about the woodpecker! LOL! I like woodpeckers until they start attacking the house and scaring the crap out of you!

  3. Free Self-Growth eBooks on August 15th, 2007 5:54 am

    I really wouldn’t feel comfortable with creatures like that around me.. Glad I don’t have to worry about it :-)

  4. Chris on August 15th, 2007 1:26 pm

    Self-Growth eBooks - I’m glad you don’t have to worry about them as well!

  5. jew on August 23rd, 2007 9:25 am

    what a great picture. i agree black widow are scary, but frankly i love spiders they eat mosquitoes

  6. Chris on August 24th, 2007 10:50 am

    Jew - I’m more fond of the kind of spiders that eat mosquitoes but don’t have the nasty bite of one of these! Thanks for dropping by!

  7. Jew on September 2nd, 2007 6:42 am

    Well, yah I guess you’re right…
    I’ve never meet a Black Widow in person, but I did heard it’s one dangerous spider.

  8. Ventrilo Server on September 7th, 2007 3:33 pm

    Yea I try to stay away from those spiders

  9. Gyms and Health Clubs by Aaron on September 7th, 2007 9:24 pm

    I’ve always been absolutely terrified of spiders, but these in particular… this and the brown recluse are supposed to be able to kill a man, is that accurate?

  10. Chris on September 10th, 2007 9:03 pm

    Ventrilo Server - Indeed….I would leave these bad boys alone!

    Gyms and Health Clubs by Aaron - I’m not too fond of them myself. As for the damage they can do…I would think it would be a very rare occurrence for the black widow or brown recluse to kill a human. I’ve seen people let a brown recluse bite go without getting treatment, and those things get nasty!!! You can probably do a google search for “brown recluse bites” and see some pictures of what they can do to you.
    Thanks for dropping by!

  11. angela on September 23rd, 2007 2:46 pm

    Just droppin’ in to thank you again for this pic. It verified that the TWO spiders my husband encountered today while mowing the lawn and getting things from our shed were indeed black widows.

    Thank goodness no bites!

  12. Play arcade games on January 21st, 2008 1:40 am

    very intresting reading, keep up the good work man

  13. JENNIFER on February 2nd, 2008 3:23 pm

    You all are cruel and sick in your head to not like a black widow if anything they would keep the pest out of your house…. They do not harm humans unless they feel threatend…

  14. Chris on February 2nd, 2008 10:05 pm

    Ummm….Ok…..I’ll take your word for that.

  15. montblanc meisterstuck on February 14th, 2008 6:37 am

    Yuck! If there is one, does that mean there are more? I wouldnt be able to sleep at night.

  16. MSN hacken on March 22nd, 2008 12:58 pm

    I almost been surprised with this kind of picture. I hate that animals, but they are very useful for our environment and the world

  17. next health news on May 8th, 2008 5:32 pm

    However, like any spider, widow spiders may cause fear and nervousness in people who come into contact with them.

  18. Nick - Bittenbydesign.com on August 11th, 2008 12:16 am

    If memory serves, it is an Arachnophile.

    But I would much prefer the Black Widow over the huge range of Spiders we have here in Australia!

    The Red Back is similar, but we also have many more (and very aggresive) spiders, snakes, and the occasional mad magpie.

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