Hi everyone, I've been reading the forum and the input on black widows as we have them here in South Central Virginia. I got a little zealous this spring and planted our winter squash and pumpkins way to early, anyway they are already ready to pick. My husband went out to bring in a few of the pumpkins that had the vines dried on them and told me he found a black widow with a web in the little hollow on the bottom of the pumpkin. You all just might want to keep an eye out for them; a friend of mine was bitten by one a couple of years ago in her chicken house and ended up at the hospital and in a lot of pain for a few days. I would have thought my guineas would have found it (they are always sneaking into the garden), but I guess she got established underneath the pumpkin before they found her. I just wanted to share that info--I always find everyone else's experiences to be very helpful. Blessings. Sharon

-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), July 28, 2001

Answers

Thanks, sharon, will do!

I came across one in a little box in the corner of our garage a couple of years ago while cleaning. Rather disconcerting, to say the least.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), July 29, 2001.

Are Black Widows found all across the US, or mostly in the Southern States?

-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), July 29, 2001.

black widows are found in most of the US,, even here in Mich. unless ther are in the house,,I leave em alone. any spider bite is poisoness, and it all depends on the last time she ate. You dont bother them,, they dont bother you.

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), July 29, 2001.

A black widow was found on one of the tomato plants. That is the second one I've killed in our garden. Are they worse this year?

-- Lynn (lynnannmb@hotmail.com), July 29, 2001.

We have them here in So.CA all year round. Its the only spider I "hunt" regularly because they tend to locate in good hiding places that people will unknowingling access. Like under the benches of the picnic table and in the eaves of the chicken coop. I have found them in the tomato plants also. I make regular rounds each month with a torch and clear out the population. But they always return.

-- Dwight (summit1762@aol.com), July 30, 2001.

Black Widows are found all throughout the US, except at higher altitudes (above 6500 feet). They're most dangerous in the spring, because you have a higher chance of running across fresh egg cocoons full of spiderlings. Baby spiders pack the same amount of poison as the adults, but there are dozens of them to bite you. This shouldn't be a problem for boots (unless you've left them out since the previous Fall). If you have a real problem, I say wear gloves and shake out your boots. If you're extra arachnophobic, you could spray for spiders in the spring, but that typically kills off all of the spiders and might make your summer less pleasant (the average spider eats about 100,000 mosquitoes per year). Just be careful. Black Widows are non-aggressive and will leave you alone if you leave them alone.

-- Tony Contento (contento@iastate.edu), January 02, 2002.