Black Widow Spiders

Black Widow Spiders are considered venomous spiders in North America. Black Widow spiders are not usually deadly, especially to adults, because they inject only a small amount of venom. Despite its reputation, this spider often attempts to escape rather than bite, unless it is guarding an egg mass or if it is cornered and pressed. After mating, the female sometimes eats the male, earning the name "widow."

The female black widow spider is the most easily recognized, her shiny black body giving great contrast to the red hourglass marking on her round abdomen. Adult black widow spider males are harmless, about half the female's size, and usually have yellow and red bands with spots on their backs. The legs of the male are much longer in proportion to his body than that of the female, with its body half the size.

Brown Recluse Spiders

Brown recluse spiders are one of the two venomous spiders in North America, the other being the Black Widow that can inflict a dangerous bite. The reclusive nature of brown recluse spiders seeks hiding places and shelter. The Brown Recluse spider can be found in the southern, western and mid western United States, especially Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Brown recluse spiders are very adaptable and may be active in temperatures ranging from 45 to 110 degrees F. It is usually found indoors, in bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, garages, basements and cellars. In homes with forced hot air heating and air conditioning and often above-ceiling duct work, brown recluse spiders can be found harboring in or around the duct work or registers.

Brown recluse spider adults are soft-bodies, yellowish-tan to dark brown. The adult body varies from 1/3-to 1/2 inch in length. With the legs it can be an overall size of 1 inch diameter or greater. The brown recluse spider has a distinctive darker brown violin-shaped mark, with the neck of the violin pointing towards the abdomen.

Wolf Spiders

Common household pest in the fall when they are looking for a warm place to overwinter. They are commonly found around doors, windows, house plants, basements, garages, and in almost all terrestrial habitats. They do not spin a web but roam at night to hunt for food. Wolf spiders are often confused with the brown recluse, but they lack the unmistakable violin-shaped marking behind the head. The wolf spider is shy and seeks to run away when disturbed.

Wolf spiders range from about 1/2 inch to 2 inches in length, hairy, and are typically brown to gray in color with various markings or lines. Wolf spider mothers carry their large egg sacs around with them. When the young spiderlings hatch they climb onto their mother's back and ride around until partially grown. Wolf spiders are not poisonous, though as with all spiders, bites may cause reactions in certain individuals.