How harmful are black widow spiders?
By jonesy123
@jonesy123 (3948)
United States
September 30, 2008 5:19pm CST
We just saw a black widow spider in our flowerbed. The flowerbed is surrounded by a rockwall, which is probably where it is hiding out. I freaked and ripped part of it apart but couldn't find the spider. I'm sure it was a black widow because it had all the characteristics for it and it was quite big. We did get a good look at it but it disappeared before I had the gear to catch it. Now, I never thought there would be any this far north in KY anyway but there it was. Unfortunately, this flowerbed is right attached to the house and we saw it near the front door area. I'm afraid it may come in once it gets colder, which should be within the next couple of days. We have little kids, too. So my question is, how dangerous are those black widow spiders? What should I do, if one of us gets bitten by it?
2 people like this
7 responses
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
30 Sep 08
EEEEWWWWW!! I can't believe I am responding to this! LOL This is my worst phobia spiders.
These are very dangerous. I think it is the female that is the most dangerous and they are like 15 times a venomous as the prarie rattlesnake.
Maybe you could call a pest control and get some advice on something you can spray around the house with.
Good Luck!
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
30 Sep 08
I also read that they rarely kill humans though. Seek medical attention quickly if bitten.
1 person likes this
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
1 Oct 08
I, too, have a spider phobia. I still can't believe there is one in that rock wall. I read up on it a bit now. When I ripped apart part of the rock wall I actually saw the egg sack but didn't recognize it as such and didn't destroy it. After I realized what it was, I went back out but of course it was gone. I'm wary of an 'invasion' now. I'll spray something into every nook of that wall regularly now. Hopefully a repeat encounter can be avoided.
I'll probably have nightmares tonight because of that..
1 person likes this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
1 Oct 08
Oh yeah that's right I meant to thank you for the nightime story! 
1 person likes this
@RhythmWalker1 (825)
• United States
1 Oct 08
Do a Search, these can kill you!
My dad got bit by one and got real sick
and was in bad pain because the venom
spreads to your nervous system.
DO NOT play around with these critters!
1 person likes this
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
1 Oct 08
I would never play with them, I have a spider phobia anyway. But I'm nervous about my kids, especially my little boy who loves bugs. I warned all three of them but my little one is only two so he may forget about it. I just have to keep him away from there and give him a warning every so often.
I did a search and hope I can recognize the bites and symptoms ASAP so I can get them medical care if necessary.
1 person likes this
@rjblueyes (215)
• United States
2 Nov 08
Brown reclouse. I hope i spelled that right. Really watch out for these guys! if you get bitten by one of these, you skin litterally gets eatten away by the venom. Awful stuff. I highly reccomend looking this one up so you know what it looks like so you can watch out for it. As a mother myself I completely understand you wanting to keep your kids safe. These are spiders to watch for. They just kinda hang around outside. A friend of the family got bit by one of these on his hand while working outside in a garden or something. It looked really awful. Keep safe!
@know21 (1250)
• United States
30 Sep 08
Black widow spider bites rarely kill people, but it's important to get medical attention as soon as you can because they can make you very sick. , wash the bite well with soap and water. Then apply an ice pack to the bite, and try to elevate the area and keep it still to help prevent the spread of venom (poison).
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
1 Oct 08
Thanks. I'm scared of ordinary spiders, so this one really upsets me. I surely hope that she moves on but one never knows. I'll keep the ice packs handy. It's only 15 minutes to the hospital. I'm more afraid that it may find its way into the kids' rooms and bite them at night...
You can tell I have a phobia..
1 person likes this
@ersmommy1 (12587)
• United States
6 Nov 08
their venom is extremely potent (it is also reported to be much more potent than the venom of cobras and coral snakes), these spiders are not especially large.When this amount of venom goes through the body of a healthy, mature human, it usually does not amount to a fatal dose.initially a severe pain in local muscle groups occurs, and the pain then spreads to regional muscle groups
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
7 Nov 08
Thanks. That's what I found when I researched it. It still could be dangerous to little kids, which I have three of. I'll just have to be vigilant and keep them away from the rockwall.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
1 Oct 08
I wouldn't go making them a pet or anything. You can have an exterminator spray for them and that will help to get rid of them. If you get bitten go to the ER, the venom is a small amount but concentrated, if a child gets bit it could be serious.
1 person likes this
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
1 Oct 08
Oh, I'd never make them a pet, lol. I told the kids to stay away from there and never to touch a spider looking like that. They got a good look at it because they were the ones alerting me to it. They had never seen a spider that big. Yes, our kids are little and that's why I'm looking to get as much info as I can get so I recognize a bite ASAP.
1 person likes this
@sunny69316 (638)
• China
11 Oct 08
Hi,jonesy,
It is very dangerous to your family!!
Since you can't found it ,then you should prepare some medicine,should learn how to prevent black widow spider,to gather some resource about it!
God bless you!!
