Black widow spider

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho – The black widow ia a highly venomous species of spider and are well known for their distinctive black and red coloring of the female of the species. The female black widow’s venom is harmful to humans and the injection of venom from these species is a comparatively dangerous or lethal bite.

Black widow spiders

Published May 13, 2010

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Mountain Home AFB is home to a vast array of creatures and insects. One insect that is very abundant and draws many concerns is the Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus mactans). With some knowledge and a few helpful hints, Gunfighters should be able to control any encounter with this spider at home or work.

Black Widow spiders are predators and feed on live prey and are perhaps the most successful predators on the face of the earth. Even so, they are relatively non-aggressive toward people and rarely bite humans. Spiders bite people as a means of defense. It's when we put on our shoe or shirt and a spider is in it; or we roll over on a spider at night and squeeze it inadvertently, that the spider bites us.

Black Widows are easily identified. They are basically black with a red or orange hourglass marking on the abdomen. Spiders are insect eaters so they are found anywhere insects can be captured, around windows, doors, in corners, shrubbery, woodpiles etc.

Prevention is the first line of defense for Black Widows. To keep webs from accumulating around doors, windows, foundations, and under eaves, sweep or wash the webs away as needed to keep them from establishing a home.

A fly swatter is the most effective control for spiders, since it gets immediate results and leaves no harmful chemical residue. If chemical control is what you choose, aerosol sprays are safer and more effective on spiders than residual sprays. A short burst (one or two seconds) will be more than adequate to kill even the biggest of spiders. Residual sprays (ones that last for a duration of time on the surface) can be applied around all entries into the house (ie. doors, windows and garage doors), and from the base of the house to 18 inches high. The residual spray is targeting the pest the black widow spider eats, not the spider. If there are no insects the black widow will move on to find a food source.

With the weather changing you are most likely going to see numerous kinds of pests around your house. If you follow these helpful hints, and take some precautionary measures the pest problem around your house will be minimal. The Base Self-Help Store issues an aerosol insecticide that works great for indoor applications and as a contact spray. Residual sprays will have to be purchased at the Base Exchange or a store downtown. The product you are applying is very safe if you follow the labeled directions.

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Black widow spider

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