How Would You Like to Find This Lady Hanging Out In Your Living Room?

@RubyHawk That is scary. I am much more afraid of the brown recluse because they are more dangerous and they are harder to identify at first sight. So far they aren't supposed to be living in my area, but that could change.

The red hour glass is on their stomachs. Never saw this lady upside down and I didn't want to turn her over. She also was in a jagged uneven black widow type web. Black widows have long legs and move in a creepy way. They hide out in dark places, like under large appliances, and come out at night to hunt. They usually stay out of the light. After much experience living in close proximity to black widows, usually outside, I've learned to recognized them by shape, their webs, and their behavior. I'm willing to coexist with them outside, but not inside, if I see them.

@bagarad No, I wouldn't want to get too close to a black widow, My son was once stung with one. He had to be rushed to the hospital. I also have a cousin who was bitten by a brown recluse. She was in the hospital for months and almost lost a leg. it's best to be careful of spiders.

I don't bother most of the benign spiders as long as they don't get too close to where I sleep. My hubby asks me to deal with the spiders.

@paigea Yup! My husband found a black widow on the outside of our garage door yesterday, and called me out to deal with it.

@bagarad That is like friends of mine. Even when they lived in Australia for a while and found some huge spiders. The wife had to deal with them.

Me, too. This freaks me out to think they might leave the living room and head for the bedroom.

@ScribbledAdNauseum I wouldn't want to rely on it in this situation. Ants are annoying, not poisonous.

@bagarad Is peppermint oil a deterrent? I know it is for ants. It might be worth it to have some on hand.

You are fortunate.

@bagarad And I do hope that my good fortune keeps going.

Good for you. I still haven't found the one who got away.

@bagarad I have sprayed the area, just in case she (he) left friends behind.

Even poisonous ones in your house?

@bagarad well. Ahmmp

@bagarad I don't like squishing things either. Especially something big enough to take my foot off. yet, I have hard wood floors.No vacuum in the house. There is no way I am picking one up and placing it outside.

@rusty2rusty I can pick up some spiders in a container with a lid if the spider is accessible on a wall. I just slip the container under the spider and flick the lid to get the spider in, put the lid on, and take it outside. I have found a feta cheese container from Costco works very well for this, since it is rectangular. I don't think I'd be brave enough to try it with a black widow.

I hate squishing insects and spiders. That's why I vacuum up the spiders.

Most of them don't bother me, but the dangerous ones do. I don't like to share my living space with them.

@bagarad Whenever we are in the room we will be looking here and there expecting to see them.

@silvermist I guess I will be, too, now.

Sometimes only spraying the spider itself really gets rid of it.

I don't want either to bit me, but I'm more scared of rattlesnakes. I really think they kill more people than black widows.

They used to hang out above our sliding glass door at the other house, but we finally got rid of them. You never see them except at night, and I was always afraid one would decide to drop on my head. I was glad when they were finally gone.

I wonder if they are coming from the chimney, since we haven't used the fireplace in ten years. Most likely they sneak in through under or around the screen door when we keep it open to cool off in the evening. I guess I'll have to get some spider spray. I hate using them, but sometimes they are the safest option.

Black widows aren't big or hairy. The spider itself was about half as big as this photo. Black widows are shiny and creepy and have red tummies. This lady did not show me her tummy, but I have seen enough of these to know them by color and shape, web design, and habits.

@bagarad Oh I see.

I hope you won't meet any.