Southern Black Widow verses Brown Widow Spider

In Florida, only two main types of venomous spiders occur: widow spiders and recluse spiders.  Two species of the widow spiders that are seen in South Florida are:

1.  The southern black widow is the most common of the native widow spiders. It is the epitome of the classic widow spider, occurring in all the normal widow spider habitats. It is a glossy jet black all over, including body and legs. The only red marks are the bright red hourglass mark on the underside of the abdomen, and a red spot just behind and above the spinnerets. It occurs throughout the state.

2.  The brown widow is highly variable in color. It may be almost white to almost black. Typically, it is a light to medium brown, with an orange hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen. The leg segments are banded, with one half of each segment lighter in color than the other half. The back often has a row of white spots (rarely orange or light blue), and there are a few white stripes on each side. Dark individuals lack these markings and are difficult to distinguish from black widows. If an eggsac is present, this is the best identifying characteristic. Brown widow eggsacs are tan, spherical, and have many small tufts of silk sticking out from them. They resemble a 'sandspur.' The other widows make white, smooth eggsacs that tend to be pear-shaped. The brown widow is an extremely timid spider which has rarely been reported to bite. However, it is an introduced species and is the most human-adapted of the species occurring in Florida. Its webs may occur anywhere there is sufficient space to make one. It may be extremely abundant on houses and other man-made structures (e.g., barns, fences, guard rails, bridges). It reproduces frequently and disperses rapidly, making it nearly impossible to control.  For more information, please visit the Florida DOACS

If you are concerned about venomous spiders  – Call A1 Super Heroes at (954) 255-2233 to speak with one of our professionals.