Pest Guide for Brown Widow Spiders
The lesser-known brown widow spider is one of five species of widow spiders in the U.S. (the other four include a red widow and three types of black widows). While they’re not as common as black widows, they can still be found in a variety of states and are considered dangerous. If you find you have a brown widow presence in your home or office, it’s important to contact our pest control professionals.
Features
Brown widow spiders are similar to black widow spiders in that they’re also around 1 ½ – 2 inches long with bulbous abdomens. The females sport a similar hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomens, but in an orange or yellowish color instead of red. As their name suggests, brown widow spiders are often brown or tan and the male sports a black-and-white geometric pattern on the top of its abdomen.
Venom
The bite of a brown widow spider is painful, but isn’t as dangerous as a bite of a black widow spider. If a person is bit by a brown widow, he/she is likely to experience burning and swelling of the area and a possibility of muscle spasms. These bites can still be very painful, but can be easily treated by a professional.
Habitat & Diet
While black widow spiders can be found in much of the U.S., brown widow spiders are really only present in southern states. These include South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and parts of New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Outdoors, you can find brown widow spiders in woodpiles, rock piles, under fallen branches, in tree stumps, and in other sheltered areas. If they make their way into your home, you’ll likely find them in dark spots like your garage, basement, attic, behind furniture, or in other dimly lit areas.
Like many spiders, brown widows feed on crickets, flies, mosquitoes, ants, beetles, roaches, and other common insects.
Infestation Prevention
While a brown widow spider infestation isn’t very common, it’s still possible. These spiders are found mainly outside, but if they do make it indoors into your home or office, you’ll want to get rid of them as quickly as possible to prevent an infestation. There are really only two signs of a spider presence: the spiders themselves and their webs.
To prevent brown widows from invading your home or office, follow these tips:
- Inspect your firewood before bringing it into the house.
- Seal any cracks or holes around windows, doors, and other entry points.
- Wear gloves when gardening and when handling straw, wood, or brush.
- Eliminate any piles of leaves or debris near your home.
- Frequently vacuum and dust behind furniture, in room corners, and in other dark areas.
If you do find brown widow spiders in your building, don’t hesitate to contact our pest control company. We’ll get rid of the problem quickly and safely so you can go back to your daily routine.
