The Secret Life of the Black Widow —What You Didn’t Learn in School
Spiders are everywhere, and Sheridan is no exception. These little creatures are found outside and at times inside homes as well. One of the most venomous species of spiders is the black widow spider. These are not commonly found inside homes, but sometimes they can be there.
They are so deadly that if they bite humans, it can result in death. There are other species of spiders as well that are considered poisonous, but this one is the most dangerous among all the others. There is an hourglass-shaped marking on their abdomen, and it is a female who is venomous.
Black widow spiders are named so because of their habit of eating the male spiders once the mating is done. Black widow spiders are found all over the world, in many parts, including the United States. If they are found inside your home, you need to know how to distinguish them from other spiders.
Secondly, you need to make sure that you do not panic and handle the situation calmly. Try this to know more about the pest control services in your area and safeguard your family.
What should you know about black widow bites?
They are not really the aggressive type, which is why it is not very likely for them to bite humans. Females bite humans in order to protect their eggs. There is a nerve toxin present in the venom of these spiders. The male ones are not known to bite.
If the black widow spider bites you, you may experience various things, such as muscle spasms, stiffness in the body, etc. There can even be paralysis of the diaphragm, which is mild in nature. It can result in difficulty breathing.
The victims of its bite do recover without having to go through serious complications. However, if it is a child who has been bitten by this venomous creature, it can prove to be fatal. The same goes for people who are old.
What are some major species of black widow spiders?
There are southern black widow spiders, which are considered to be the most common among other species of black widow spiders. Its body is shiny, and there is a reddish design on its body, which has a somewhat yellowish color as well.
Their abdomen is spherical, which is precisely where you will have such a design. Their body is one centimetre long, the males are not usually seen, and they are half the size of the females.
There are some other species as well, including the northern black widow spider, the western red widow, and one more, which is the brown widow. These are the common ones in the United States.
What are some standard features of arachnids?
Spiders are called arachnids; they can differ in size depending on the type you are dealing with. Their size can be as small as that of termites and can be as big as that of a scorpion.
As far as their appearance is concerned, their legs are short, and scorpions also have a little tail, which is curved. Tarantulas have long legs and are hairy to some extent as well. Arachnids have segmented bodies, and they also possess jointed appendages.
They do not have jaws except for some. When they are after their prey, they can inject some digestive fluid into their body. Their eyes are also simple. Some of them can hold their prey and crush it as well.
They do not bite until they feel threatened. House spiders are the most common ones that you are likely to come across inside your home.
Keep spiders away from your home!
There are various things that you can do to prevent their entry into your home. However, sometimes they get inside even after taking preventive measures.
You can try different methods to get them out; however, if nothing works, then you can consider reaching out to a professional. They have the knowledge and various means to deal with the infestation.