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Black Widow Spiders

Discussion in 'Nature/Habitat/Garden Corner' started by twubs, May 16, 2011.

  1. twubs

    twubs New Member

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    New to the neighborhood and have already found two black widow spiders around the yard over the last month. One was on the kids swing set and the other was across the yard in a shed that was only built a month ago.

    What I saw and killed was the northern black widow which has a row of red spots down the middle of the upper surface of its abdomen and two crosswise bars on the undersurface. The markings can also be yellow or white, and the spider itself may be brown or have red legs.

    Anyone else seen them in their yard?
     
  2. Kaosdad

    Kaosdad Will work for Rum

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    Yep, quite common. They love the underside of things.
     
  3. TeamDonzi

    TeamDonzi ShowMeTheMoney!

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    ZOICKS!! I didn't know and may never go into the woods again...just how sick can one get from a bite?
     
  4. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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  5. mamatothree

    mamatothree New Member

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    From Bing Health:

    In most cases of a black widow spider bite, symptoms consist only of:

    Minimal to sharp pain followed by swelling and redness at the site of the bite.
    One or two small fang marks like tiny red spots.
    In some cases, severe symptoms appear within 30 to 60 minutes. These include:

    Muscle cramps and spasms that start near the bite and then spread and increase in severity for 6 to 12 hours.
    Chills, fever, nausea, or vomiting.
    Sweating.
    Severe abdominal, back, or chest pain.
    Headache.
    Stupor, restlessness, or shock.
    Severe high blood pressure.
     
  6. Kaosdad

    Kaosdad Will work for Rum

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    Unless you're generally allergic to insect bites, then it can be worse. The best thing to do is collect the spider in a jar and call 911.

    Should we tell TeamDonzi about the Brown Recluse? Also native to the area. Nasty little things.
     
  7. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    LITTLE???????

    :scaredhide:
     
  8. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    (off topic... but Kaos and Donzi... have you two met? You would totally enjoy one another. Might have to make this happen if you've never met! And let the martinis flow...)
     
  9. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    The BR is NOT native to this area. Sure, there are probably some but there are not indigenous to Virginia (yet).
     
  10. TeamDonzi

    TeamDonzi ShowMeTheMoney!

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    Hahaha, Sharse, you're right, I haven't met Kaos, but I can tell we'd hit it off!

    And I can tell you with certainty I'm wearing a HAZMAT suit in the woods from now on!
     
  11. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Re: Can anyone (or anyplace) ID what I think is a tick?

    While we are on the tick subject, I want to say that I, for the first time, saw two Black Widow Spiders that my neighbor caught recently near the garage door of her house. I heard that there are plenty of black widows here in Broadlands so be careful. Some of the black widows have red round spots and some have the requisite hour glass markings on their fat round bellies...I have never seen such a huge spider before. To kill them, just take a pair of tweezers and place the spiders into a jar filled with rubbing alcohol...that'll kill them for sure. Make sure you get their eggs too and put them in same jar. I was surprised that we had black widows here... they are rather very poisonous...

    Just be on the lookout for them as well....
     
  12. TeamDonzi

    TeamDonzi ShowMeTheMoney!

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    :bawling:
    Why, why, why here?...That's it, it's go time over here, I'm spraying the house TODAY!!
     
  13. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Are you SERIOUS???? Then I think I have it in my car!!! How do I get rid of the brown recluse spider? I think I accidentally left my window open a crack last night which is how it got in. So what will effectively get rid of it? Don't tell me that nothing will work short of tearing the entire car apart to get rid of it :huh:
     
  14. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Don't cry...its alright...those nasty things won't git to you....
     
  15. TeamDonzi

    TeamDonzi ShowMeTheMoney!

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    sell the car!
     
  16. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    You are TOOOOO funny! Nahhh, probably will have to gas the sucker! Gas chamber it is for the spider..... :devil2:
     
  17. TeamDonzi

    TeamDonzi ShowMeTheMoney!

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    You can borrow the HAZMAT suit!
     
  18. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Ha HAHAHA....that's a VERY good one!!! :pofl:
     
  19. napper

    napper New Member

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    I guess I shouldn't be surprised Black Widows are around here. But I grew up here and have NEVER seen one. However, a friend of mine got bitten by a Brown Recluse and half his calf was eaten away. That was about 15 years ago.
     
  20. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Yikes!!! That's some serious injury! If the car is VERY hot...do they survive in the heat in the car for long especially when they don't have access to food?
     

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