Residents of Arizona, Texas, and other states in the southwest are urged by scientists and pest control experts to stay vigilant as deadly black widow spiders return to the US this summer.
Arachnid Invasion
According to a factsheet from the University of Arizona, June is the time of the year when residents of southwest US should be most alert to the reemergence of black widow spiders in the area. This is because these animals are highly active during hot summer nights.
Broken Arrow Pest Control owner Daniel Shank told local Texas TV station KTRE that recent warm and wet rainy weather in East Texas has increased the insect population on which spiders feed. Black widows feed on insects that are out and about around these insect-infested areas.
Shank advises locals to always bring a flashlight when searching for black widows. They reflect light vividly just like many other spiders and scorpions.
Experts at Texas A&M advised people to take necessary precautions when dealing with stored items or working in areas where these arachnids might hide. These include undisturbed sites like storage areas and basements.
Pest management specialist Bryant McDowell said that black widow spiders prefer cluttered areas. Personally, he encountered these animals hanging out underneath patio furniture, in outdoor trash cans, and in barbecue smoke pits untouched for a long time.
In his spring advisory, McDowell explained that black widows generally prefer to hide out in fortified spots close to the ground. Some of these hiding sites include wood piles, stones, hollowed-out tree stumps, and holes dug by other animals.
A clue that there might be a black widow spider nearby is the presence of their uniquely messy webs. As described by T.J. Martin from University of Arizona's Cochise County Master Gardeners program, these webs look like they were spun by a very drunk spider. This means that this arachnid bears little resemblance to the typical neat and symmetrical web of most spiders.
Black widows seem to have a bad reputation because of their venom, according to Francisco Garcia, entomology manager at the Butterfly Pavilion in Colorado. Still, he reminds that spiders play a very important role maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.
Instead of killing the venomous animal, homeowners are advised by experts to safely remove black widows from their property.
READ ALSO: Black Widow Venom: Researchers Study Lizards, a Step Closer to Resisting the Spider's Poison
How Dangerous Are Black Widow Spiders?
Black widow spiders are not aggressive to humans unless they feel threatened. Female black widow spiders can strike with a neurotoxic venom which can be 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake bite.
Experts warn against this toxin since this is used for defense and to paralyze prey. Known as latrotoxin, the venom can cause severe muscle pain and spasms, as well as abdominal cramps and heart issues. It can also paralyze the diaphragm and lead to serious breathing trouble.
According to authorities, this is mostly a threat to children, the elderly, and the physically weak. They also noted that many healthy adults have survived black widow spider bites.
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