Widow Spiders in the U.S.

The shiny black body and distinctive red hourglass make the black widow spider almost universally known. What is less known, however, is that there are five different species of widow spiders in the U.S. While the range of each may overlap to some degree, they are distinctly different. They do share many similarities, though: they all have large, round abdomens, spin cobwebs, live in dark spaces, have some sort of red or orange markings and are poisonous.

Southern

• The Southern black widow's range is typically the south and southeast U.S.; it is the most common widow spider in this region. The body is usually shiny black and the abdomen has a red or orange hourglass marking on the bottom. This mark may be a complete hourglass or it may be two triangles. Southern black widows build cobwebs in secluded areas between two hard surfaces and can be found inside homes.

Northern

• The Northern black widow is found primarily in the northeastern U.S., although its range can extend into the deep south. While the Northern widow looks similar to the Southern, it generally has two red lines on both the underside and top of the abdomen. It rarely has a complete hourglass. Northern widows are rarely found inside, preferring outside debris and woodpiles. They are often brought inside with firewood.

Western

• The Western black widow spider is similar in appearance to the Southern widow, with the typically black body and red hourglass symbol. This spider is found in all four southwestern deserts in the U.S.:--the Chihuahuan in New Mexico, the Sonoran in Arizona, the Mohave in southern California and Nevada, and the Great Basin in Nevada and Utah. It generally nests in rocks, plants and outside debris, although cold or drought may cause it to move indoors. Immature Western widows look significantly different than adults, and may never develop the "classic" look with the red hourglass, making identification difficult.

Red

• Due to habitat, the Red widow spider is found almost exclusively in Florida. Its cephalothorax is reddish in color and its abdomen is red-brown. It usually has red spots or marks on the top of the abdomen and a single mark on the underside rather than a full hourglass. The Red widow tends to build webs in trees and bushes and is rarely found indoors.

Brown

• Brown widow spiders, despite their name, can vary in color from light brown to dark gray. The hourglass mark is generally more orange or yellow than red. Like the Red widow, the Brown is found primarily in Florida, although it can range as far west as Texas. They prefer to nest in buildings and vehicles, and the latter may have contributed to their expanding range. Although their venom is the most toxic of all the widows, the bite is actually less deadly than other widows because the Brown injects less poison.