Drop for drop, the black widow spider's bite is more powerful than a rattlesnake's, but it is injected in much smaller amounts!
All spiders are venomous, carnivorous and are either web builders or wanderers. Of the 30,000 spider species, about 60 have been implicated in human bites of medical significance. Most spider bites are by female spiders, since males are almost always smaller, have a shorter life span and have fangs that are usually too short or fragile to be significant.It is often very difficult to make a correct determination about a spider bite when the spider has not been seen or recovered. Most spider bites cause minimal medical problems. Spiders rarely bite more than once and may not release venom.
The female black widow spider (the biter) is coal black with markings of red or yellow generally in the shape of an hour glass on its abdomen. This spider is found in 48 of the contiguous United States and is more common in the South and West. It is found in most of the rest of the world. It is a shy, sedentary, largely nocturnal animal that seldom leaves its silken home.
The male spider is an insignificant health hazard. The males are near-black to a mottle brown and feature a pair of knobs on their heads.
The black widow builds an irregularly shaped mesh close to the ground with a strong, funnel-shaped retreat. Its common habitats include warm, dry environments both indoors and out. Webs are found under stones, logs, debris and in corners of abandoned and infrequently used buildings. Barns, garages and houses are often frequented. The spider hangs upside down in the web waiting for prey to become entangled. It quickly attacks, paralyzes the prey, and then sucks the juices out. If the spider is trapped against the skin or crushed, it will bite.
Most human victims recover, but about 4 percent develop a lung paralysis and die.
Signs and symptoms of a bite
- Two tiny red spots where the fangs went in.
- Pain at the bite site varies from minimal to sharp.
- Within 15 minutes to four hours, muscle spasms begin around the bite site and then spread to abdominal muscles and groin. Pain is intense and spreads down to the legs.
- These may be present: increased sweating, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, headache and dizziness.
First aid
- If possible, catch the spider to confirm its identity. Even if the body is crushed, save it for identification.
- Clean the bitten area with soap and water or alcohol. Do not apply a constriction band because the black widow venom's action is swift, and there is little to be gained by trying to slow absorption with a constriction band.
- Place an ice pack for no more than 20-30 minutes over the bite to relieve pain.
- Seek medical attention. A physician can help relieve the intense pain that develops hours after a bite and may give antivenin. Black widow spider antivenin is available but is seldom necessary. It is usually restricted to severe poisonings and in pregnant women and children.