Black Widows

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Black Widows

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Contributor: MissCandyland MissCandyland
Okay, so I was out in the yard and noticed some some trash by one of my bushes. I went to go grab it and I felt a spiderweb and shrieked. This web was really strong and sticky. We are talking Spiderman strength. I have never felt a web like this before. It was not silky and wispy like most webs. I immediately backed away and saw a black widow sitting there in the web. She started to run off, making her way down to the ground, and ran into a tunnel she had burrowed. I could not believe my eyes. She had a tunnel!! I coaxed her out and killed her with a flat shovel while saying "die mother f*cker!!" I felt accomplished and a little more relieved.

I also used a stick to tear down the web, and the web actually made a crackling noise (kind of like static) when I broke it. So strange...

I wanted to find out some information on black widows so I looked up some information on them and found this on Wikipedia:

"Not all adult female black widows exhibit the red hourglass on the ventrum or underside of the abdomen — some may have a pair of red spots or have no marking at all. Female black widows often exhibit various red markings on the dorsal or top side of the abdomen, commonly two red spots. However, it is believed that black widow young have at least some sort of marking on their abdomens. Adult male black widows are a quarter the size of the female, and are usually gray or brown rather than black and red; while they may sometimes have an hourglass marking on their ventral abdomen, it is usually yellow or white, not red."

So now, I can't rely on the 'black spider with a red marking' description of this spider I am so frightened of. Who am I kidding...?! I am scared of all spiders, but now even more so that one could be a black widow and I wouldn't know it.

Did you know this about black widows (not all of them being black or having markings? And are you deathly scared of them like me?
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
I did know this about them being other colors and maybe not having a marking.
HannahPanda , Curiouscat , Beck , underHim , pootpootpoot , wildorchid , wrmbreze , Gunsmoke , funluvinmama , Peggi , PeaceToTheMiddleEast , Starkiller87 , ghalik , dks210 , Bullfroggy and Rose , SJ88 , SexyRayne , K101 , GONE! , Errant Venture , griffonc , Allstars316 , WhoopieDoo , Ciao.
24
I did NOT know this about them being other colors and maybe not having a marking.
Sex Positivity , js250 , Lickable Lollie , Taylor , aliceinthehole , True Pleasures , Missmarc , KyotoAngel , Khanner , unfulfilled , Kithara , ViVix , melissa1973 , padmeamidala
14
I am deathly scared of black widows.
Beck , pootpootpoot , Sex Positivity , wrmbreze , Lickable Lollie , Taylor , PeaceToTheMiddleEast , SexyRayne , Missmarc , bayosgirl , K101 , GONE! , KyotoAngel , Kithara
14
I am kind of scared of black widows.
underHim , wildorchid , Gunsmoke , aliceinthehole , Tangles , ghalik , dks210 , True Pleasures , Ciao. , married with children
10
I am not really scared of black widows.
Rin (aka Nire) , js250 , Starkiller87 , Errant Venture , WhoopieDoo , ViVix , melissa1973
7
Other
Beck , Rossie , wildorchid , Peggi , SexyRayne , unfulfilled , Ms. N , melissa1973
8
Total votes: 77 (44 voters)
Poll is closed
04/02/2012
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Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Crap, I forgot to vote that I knew about this. I actually like spiders, and I'd only be slightly more wary of a black widow than I would be of any other spider.

The thing is, in the event that you do get bitten, you have several hours to get help before the potentially fatal effects take hold. And a healthy adult human even has a fair chance of pulling through without assistance (though of course it's wisest to get some help if you're bitten). Also, most spiders prefer to run from a creature as big as a human, and will not waste precious venom (which takes lots of energy to make) unless they are cornered and out of options.

Check out this thread I made a while back, where I go into a bit more detail about the subject of spider venom.
04/02/2012
Contributor: HannahPanda HannahPanda
That's TERRIFYING. I love that this thread actually taught me something, though
04/02/2012
Contributor: Curiouscat Curiouscat
I did know this. They are creepy though, I don't like spiders at all. That would have freaked me out! At least you killed it before it bit someone. Yuck!
04/02/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
I hate spiders all kids! They freak me the hell out! I did actually know that, but I am an Animal Planet nerd I can tell you a lot of things about all kinds of animals.
04/02/2012
Contributor: MissCandyland MissCandyland
Quote:
Originally posted by Rin (aka Nire)
Crap, I forgot to vote that I knew about this. I actually like spiders, and I'd only be slightly more wary of a black widow than I would be of any other spider.

The thing is, in the event that you do get bitten, you have several hours to ... more
Dang Rin....you are very knowledgeable on this topic.

I know you don't die right off or anything, but it still freaks me out!

I did watch Arachnophobia when I was young, maybe that has something to do with it...
04/02/2012
Contributor: Sex Positivity Sex Positivity
Dear god, I hate spiders. Now I have to be extra scared? Dammit.
04/02/2012
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
I don't care what kind of spider I see, I kill them all!
04/02/2012
Contributor: wildorchid wildorchid
My dear, are you sure it was a black widow? I didn't know they burrowed...
04/02/2012
Contributor: js250 js250
I am so not afraid of spiders...snakes now!!!!!AAARRRGGGHHH!! !!
04/02/2012
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
Quote:
Originally posted by js250
I am so not afraid of spiders...snakes now!!!!!AAARRRGGGHHH!! !!
I don't like snakes neither, but they help gobble up all the other pests in my yard, so I leave them alone.
04/02/2012
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Quote:
Originally posted by MissCandyland
Dang Rin....you are very knowledgeable on this topic.

I know you don't die right off or anything, but it still freaks me out!

I did watch Arachnophobia when I was young, maybe that has something to do with it...
Heehee, I tend to learn a lot about any animal that I like. As far as I'm concerned, more spiders means fewer bugs that are more annoying. I especially love the big barn spiders that sometimes nest above my front door or in the bushes. When they're around, I don't see as many wasps flying around my house (I'm very apiphobic, so I can sympathize with your fear on some level, at least). I consider those barn spiders to be my friends.

And Arachnophobia is one of my favorite movies, actually. Doesn't scare me at all, it's fun to watch and has some great humor.
04/02/2012
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
Growing up we had more Brown Recluse spiders around than Black Widows - but we were taught to keep our distance from them all. Traveling through the woods one day I almost walked through a Brown Recluse web - protecting my face with my hand - I got a nasty BR bite. It took weeks to heal and caused some nasty swelling.
04/02/2012
Contributor: aliceinthehole aliceinthehole
Quote:
Originally posted by MissCandyland
Okay, so I was out in the yard and noticed some some trash by one of my bushes. I went to go grab it and I felt a spiderweb and shrieked. This web was really strong and sticky. We are talking Spiderman strength. I have never felt a web like this ... more
it made me sad to hear you coaxed her out and killed her. she wasn't hurting anyone. contrary to popular belief - they're not going to hurt you unless you, say, sit on them or something. the fact that she was running away from you says it all.


i saw one on my friend's farm this weekend. it creeped me out a bit, and i didnt want her to be anywhere near me, but other than that, she has a right to be out there in the field just as much as i do.
04/02/2012
Contributor: funluvinmama funluvinmama
I have been taught everything about black widow spiders only because my dad got bit by one once and was in the hospital for a few days sick.

I found one a few months ago in my house next to my washer. Not a good place for her because my kids help with laundry. I really don't like spiders. hubby is more scared of them then I am.
04/02/2012
Contributor: Peggi Peggi
I'm one of those weirdos who loves learning about insects and such, so I did know this.

I'm not really afraid of these or any other spiders in general, and I don't so much mind them as long as they stay away from me, but just as I respect them in their homes, they should stay the hell out of mine!!!

If they are in the house, if they're lucky I'll have something close by to catch them in and release them faaaaar away, but if I don't, they get a shoe.

Luckily, we don't get many spiders in the house, aside from daddy long legs and I don't mind them I think they're cute
04/02/2012
Contributor: PeaceToTheMiddleEast PeaceToTheMiddleEast
I hate spiders period. I got the creeps just reading your post.
04/02/2012
Contributor: Tangles Tangles
I jump them I see them, but I actually think they're really cool so I like to pick them up with sticks and look at them and stuff.
04/02/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
I have pet tarantulas so im kinda into insects and spiders. I have a scorpion as well.
Though I know spiders like the black widow can really hurt a person Im not particularly afraid of them because it isnt a really common occurrence. I just let insects be, if they make their way into my apartment I catch them and let them outside. I never ever kill them, I dont have the heart.
04/02/2012
Contributor: dks210 dks210
I knew. You don't have to be afraid of them if they're not bothering you, and you're not bothering them.
04/02/2012
Contributor: MissCandyland MissCandyland
Quote:
Originally posted by wildorchid
My dear, are you sure it was a black widow? I didn't know they burrowed...
Yes. The one I found was the traditional black with a red hourglass. My neighbor was outside in her yard also and came and looked at it before I killed it.
04/02/2012
Contributor: MissCandyland MissCandyland
Quote:
Originally posted by aliceinthehole
it made me sad to hear you coaxed her out and killed her. she wasn't hurting anyone. contrary to popular belief - they're not going to hurt you unless you, say, sit on them or something. the fact that she was running away from you says it ... more
Well, my neighbor has 2 small boys who always come into my yard. I just won't take any chances on them getting bit by a spider I could have killed.
04/02/2012
Contributor: MissCandyland MissCandyland
Quote:
Originally posted by dks210
I knew. You don't have to be afraid of them if they're not bothering you, and you're not bothering them.
I hear that a lot. People will say, "if you don't bother it, it won't sting/bite you." I do NOT live by that. I've been bitten before by things that I was not bothering.
04/02/2012
Contributor: True Pleasures True Pleasures
My grandpa got bitten by a black widow. They had to surgically remove his wedding ring, but he never got treatment and lived through it with no issues. I'm not saying I wouldn't get help if I would get bitten, but I'm not as afraid seeing as he toughed it out without much problem.
04/02/2012
Contributor: wildorchid wildorchid
Quote:
Originally posted by MissCandyland
I hear that a lot. People will say, "if you don't bother it, it won't sting/bite you." I do NOT live by that. I've been bitten before by things that I was not bothering.
I can see that, I bet animals can perceive you as being threatening when you;re not and move to protect themselves; humans do the same thing. You did what you felt you had to do and I can't say that I would have done any different.
04/02/2012
Contributor: bayosgirl bayosgirl
Quote:
Originally posted by aliceinthehole
it made me sad to hear you coaxed her out and killed her. she wasn't hurting anyone. contrary to popular belief - they're not going to hurt you unless you, say, sit on them or something. the fact that she was running away from you says it ... more
I was going to say the same thing... Why'd you have to kill it when it wasn't attacking you? I'm horribly scared of spiders but I don't see the rationale here.
04/03/2012
Contributor: K101 K101
Quote:
Originally posted by MissCandyland
Okay, so I was out in the yard and noticed some some trash by one of my bushes. I went to go grab it and I felt a spiderweb and shrieked. This web was really strong and sticky. We are talking Spiderman strength. I have never felt a web like this ... more
I'm deathly terrified of ALL s-p-i-d-e-r-s. It's easier for me to spell the word rather than say it. Just reading this made me sick to my stomach. When I read the "die mother fu**er" part, I rejoiced! Lol. I did NOT know anything about these ... bugs I'll call them. I just really can't even think the S word right now. Anyways, I did not know nor had I ever seen one until last summer when my partner and kid found one and insisted on educating me. Lol. Surprisingly my partner knows so much about creatures and gave me all the deets on these dumbasses. Lol. Sorry, I just REALLY HATE them. I will never forget the way that type of S word looked so I would definitely know one if I saw one, no matter the color. The legs look different than most S-words and are pointy at the end. I freaking hate em! They kept the one they found in a plastic bottle all day and I insisted they kill the damn thing before some freak accident happened and it got loose. I have walked into a web and heard the sound you mentioned too. Never thought anything of it. Is it only this particular S-word that has that kind of web? Writing S-words also have funny webs that makes sound, but I know what you mean about the strength and different feel of the web. Some are soft and feel barely there, almost like a tiny cat hair ticklin' ya. Then some feel sticky and grab you. I HATE walking into them! We live on a mountain and this is very common. We have a really big porch and these ugly brown S-words make webs and there'll be 6 of them lined on each rail at night! Sometimes we kill them and plenty are back the next day. I freak over those big things. I had a nasty encounter with a wolf s-word in my bedroom one night and it had dang babies! Then we had one on our porch twice last summer. RIGHT BY MY FOOT! Those I hate because the huge nasty size.
04/03/2012
Contributor: K101 K101
Quote:
Originally posted by Rossie
I don't care what kind of spider I see, I kill them all!
Amen to that! Me too! I know some of you don't understand killing things, but when we're talking TERRIFIED, it's different. I think she actually has a real fear of them and that is one hell of a dangerous creature she found. I'll kill any S-word I see no matter how small the damage they can cause. I'm too scared of them. I've had some nasty encounters and they cause me to have horrible panic attacks... at 5AM wearing nothing but a shirt (nothing!) and standing on a chair, shivering and having a panic attack when my wonderful dad comes to the rescue. Hell yes I kill em'! When you're THAT scared of something, I say you do what ya gotta do.
04/03/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
There have been rumors in my area of a "brown widow" for a while so I always freak out over every spider sadly.
04/03/2012
Contributor: KyotoAngel KyotoAngel
0_0 Great, one more thing to worry about. Most of the really scary ones we get around here are wolf spiders that look pretty much exactly like this link though I suppose they could also be nursery web spiders, I don't care to get close enough to find out.

...and in a related story, that person (in the picture) is nuts. x_x
04/03/2012