OMG. The. Biggest. Black Widow Spider

i've ever seen.

in my kitchen doorway.
this morning.

OMG

They are indigenous to NC as well. 

I find them in the shed, under the LP gas tank, around the pond, and in some other places. The ones that freak me out are the ones close up to the house. 

yeah....they must die. 

We went camping one time in a state park and after returning home..... my wife got the lounge chair out to lay in the sun and a BW had built a nest with an egg sack in the chair.... I killed it. I fumigated the camper big time. A few days later, I went to the shed to get my bicycle out and saw a web on it...... I touched the web and it was a widow web. If you ever feel a widow's web, it looks and feels unlike any other spider's web. another BW had hitched a ride home in the bike frame. Fumigate the shed..... 

No mercy on the widow's I find.  They say there are brown recluses here too but I have not yet run across one of those. 

be careful, they can eat you at night alive.

julibee


I usually try to rescue spiders from my house... The old trap them in a glass and slide a piece of paper under trick.  Not that they want to be put outside, mind you, but I don't want them in the house. This applies to most species...

{Note To Self} Avoid Chez Juilana.
 

julibee


Nah, you're safe.  The biggest glass I have is a Pint. 

julibee


I usually try to rescue spiders from my house... The old trap them in a glass and slide a piece of paper under trick.  Not that they want to be put outside, mind you, but I don't want them in the house. This applies to most species...

Except Black Widows. They die immediately.

They are everywhere here, although lately, I've been reading about BROWN Widows (somewhat less poisonous to humans) taking over the territory.  It's been said that you are more likely to see a brown widow than a black widow now.  Except that I keep seeing Black ones.  Those dead biotches.

Do the brown ones have a psychedelically colored hour-glass on them?
 
(Just askin'...)

Do you guys know of any pets that will keep your house spider free?
 
Snakes?

Bristol_Jonesey

Zonno


Do you guys know of any pets that will keep your house spider free?

Snakes?

Lizards, scorpions, frogs, some birds, even some cats have been known to find the spider a particularly tasty snack.

Ours used to, but just like his owner, he's grown too fat & lazy.

Your what?  Your lizard?  Scorpion?  Frog?  Bird? 
 
(Just curious...)

My habit is to capture spiders I find in the house and carefully transport them outdoors. I can then feel good about not harming another living thing who's just trying to survive, just like me.

Several years ago we had a fairly involved construction project going on at the house (in NJ) that lasted several months.  As a result, I had to deal with mice.  To keep them from getting into the “porous” area around the house I went out and bought a bunch of these traps called the “Tin Cat”, essentially a have a heart style trap giving you the option of releasing or drowning the mice.

I caught 4 mice (determined that after I let them go) and brought the trap to a field away from any houses to let them go.  I opened up the trap and shook them out … it was at that point I wish I had brought a video camera … in a matter of seconds, several small birds came swooping down and grabbed them (I think a couple of the birds were cardinals and I think robins … is that possible?).  For a moment in time I just watched 4 mice flying away in the talons of these birds thinking to myself … man, what an idiot I am … but, of all the stupid things I’ve done, it does rank up there (at least visually) on the hysterically funny scale.

 Spiders only creep me out if the are on me and I know they are poisonous. I tend to not care much for that.

 I like watching the one on the porch build its web,they are really cool.

  I hope the black widow didn't have little spiders yet Bat.
 
Quantum effect-At least you tried.

Black flag works well...and quickly. 

The brown widows are the males. Poor fellows..... they are not as big as the females and they don't tend to bite people. 

All spiders are venomous. It's just that most spider's fangs are not long enough or strong enough to get through the human skin. Of those that can, only 3 (?) have venom that is particularly dangerous to humans. Tarantula, Black Widow, Brown Recluse.  Many times a BW bite is not a big deal.... not that you want to get bitten to find out. depending on the amount of venom and the person's tolerance to it. 

Bat... several of the BW's around here have been pretty big. Of course.... it's like a fish story too... they tend to get bigger every time the story gets told. 

So far this year... I have only found one on my property. Black flag solved it. 

The ones that freak me out are the spiders that are now constructing webs around the buildings and trees in the yard. They mostly stay up high.... but walking into one of the webs at night as I walk around the yard is cause for instant panic..... 

It's also about time here in NC for the Garden Spiders or "writing spiders" as they are commonly called to start building their webs. Those spiders are huge. Some I've seen easily have a 3" leg span and they are bright yellow and black.... easy to see. I normally let them be. And on occasion, for fun and entertainment value..... I will catch a cricket and throw it on the web to feed them. 

quantumeffect

My habit is to capture spiders I find in the house and carefully transport them outdoors. I can then feel good about not harming another living thing who's just trying to survive, just like me.

Several years ago we had a fairly involved construction project going on at the house (in NJ) that lasted several months.  As a result, I had to deal with mice.  To keep them from getting into the “porous” area around the house I went out and bought a bunch of these traps called the “Tin Cat”, essentially a have a heart style trap giving you the option of releasing or drowning the mice.

I caught 4 mice (determined that after I let them go) and brought the trap to a field away from any houses to let them go.  I opened up the trap and shook them out … it was at that point I wish I had brought a video camera … in a matter of seconds, several small birds came swooping down and grabbed them (I think a couple of the birds were cardinals and I think robins … is that possible?).  For a moment in time I just watched 4 mice flying away in the talons of these birds thinking to myself … man, what an idiot I am … but, of all the stupid things I’ve done, it does rank up there (at least visually) on the hysterically funny scale.

Circle of life Dave. Circle of life.

here she is.