Black Widow Spider

Risk level: high (to humans) — one of the few Florida spiders with a medically significant bite. Unlike most spiders, which are harmless and helpful, widows warrant real caution.

How to identify them

• Southern black widow: glossy jet-black, round abdomen, with a red hourglass marking on the underside.
• Brown widow: tan to brown, mottled, with an orange hourglass; increasingly common in Florida. Its egg sacs have distinctive spiky projections.
• Web: irregular, tangled, strong — not the neat wheel of a garden orb weaver.
• Where: undisturbed, sheltered spots — woodpiles, sheds, garages, meter boxes, under outdoor furniture and railings.

Why they matter

A widow's venom is neurotoxic, and a bite can cause muscle pain, cramping and other systemic symptoms that warrant medical attention — especially in children, older adults, or anyone with health conditions. They aren't aggressive and bite only when pressed against skin (reaching into a woodpile, putting on a stored glove or shoe), but that's exactly why they're a hazard in garages and sheds.

What to do

Wear gloves when reaching into stored or sheltered areas, shake out shoes and gloves kept in the garage, and keep woodpiles and clutter away from the house. If you're finding widows around areas your family uses, professional removal is worth it — we target the harborage and reduce the insect prey that draws spiders in. See spider control, or book a free inspection.