UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research
The brown widow may sound like a confusing name other poisonous spiders like the black widow or brown recluse spider. Despite the confusion, the brown recluse spider is real and, for people living in Southern California and other southern locations in the United States, a potential pest that may try to invade your home.
These spiders have a few key features that make them easy to identify, such as markings that resemble those of the black widow. They are also venomous, and while their bite may not be as painful or effective as other venomous spiders, it is enough to be cautious around them — or seek professional help immediately from a reliable pest control company.
Everything you need to know about brown widows: how to recognize them, where they live, how poisonous they are, how to spot them, and how to identify them. get rid of itetc. — is covered in our guide below.
What are brown widows?
The brown widow spider shares some similarities with its relative, the black widow spider, but there are a few different details that make this arachnid stand out. Like the black widow, the brown widow spider typically has a striking color scheme and an hourglass-shaped marking — though it is usually an orange hue rather than a bright red.
Other visual features that will help you identify a brown widow include:
- A dark brown, black or mottled brown body with striped legs that can be a mix of dark and light shades of brown.
- Vertical and diagonal stripes across the abdomen of most adult females, which are not always easy to recognize.
- However, the recognizable hourglass pattern that can appear on the spider’s abdomen is usually light orange and therefore less visible from a distance.
One of the most reliable ways to confirm a brown widow spider infestation is to take a close look at the egg sacs that you find. We understand that this is the last thing you would ever want to do, but the simple fact is that the egg sacs of the brown widow spider are visibly unique compared to other species.
This is due to the distinctive pointed look of the egg sac. These egg sacs look a bit like a white, unwrapped Ferrero Rocher chocolate and have white silk points all over the surface.
Are brown widows poisonous?
If you are dealing with a spider infestation, you may be wondering if you are dealing with something dangerous. The brown widow spider shares a similarity to other widow spiders in that it is venomous, although a bite from a brown widow spider is considered less serious compared to other venomous spiders.
If you’re wondering if there’s a difference between saying a spider or other creature is venomous and saying it’s poisonous — there is. When it comes to animals, biologists distinguish between the two terms based on a few key details:
- Poisonous creatures just as some spiders, snakes or lizards inject their venom into prey or other animals by biting or stinging them.
- Poisonous creatures such as frogs, toads, and other amphibians release their toxins when eaten. Many poisonous animals carry toxins on their skin, making direct contact risky — especially if you’re dealing with a highly venomous animal like the poison dart frog.
If you’re wondering which is more dangerous to humans, it depends more on the strength of the individual creatures. Venomous spiders like the black widow are rarely aggressive toward humans unless captured or provoked, but their bite can deliver an effective dose that can cause symptoms such as pain, nausea, or muscle cramps.
The brown widow spider is just as venomous as other dangerous spiders, but a study that looked at multiple bites from the brown widow found that people either experienced no significant symptoms or symptoms that were very mild. This is possibly because the spider cannot inject as much venom as other dangerous spiders.
The main symptoms of a brown widow bite are similar to those of other household spiders and may include:
- Pain at the moment you are bitten.
- A red spot at the bite site that remains visible for a day or two.
Are there brown widows in my state?
The brown widow spider is not native to the United States and is instead considered an invasive species. It was first spotted in southeastern Florida in the mid-1900s and has since slowly spread west and north to occupy a portion of the southern continental United States. It was also introduced to southern California and Hawaii at one point.
If you live in one of these states, you are at risk of attracting a brown recluse spider to your home. This type of spider has been found in the following states:
- Florida
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Texas
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- California
- Hawaii
How do you deal with a brown widow pest?
One brown widow spider in your home is too many, let alone more. If you want to easily identify these eight-legged intruders, here are some signs to look out for:
- Irregular, possibly tangled webs in secluded areas in or around your home (closets, garages, sheds, etc.)
- The sight of this spider’s spiky egg sacs is beautiful in doorways, windowsills or near webs.
- A confirmed sighting of a brown widow spider itself. Note the distinctive orange hourglass shape and an overall color scheme of black, brown, and tan.
Residents of Southern California (or other southern states) who want immediate professional spider control solutions can contact Aptive, an established and trusted name in the pest control world.
Aptive offers spider control solutions that include a complete inspection of your home and property, as well as preventative measures such as sealing cracks and holes that spiders and other insects can enter through.
Aptive offers pest control services Starting at just $2 per day for new customers who sign up for a minimum 12-month service agreement with four or more standard treatments. There are also three types of plans you can sign up for, depending on the severity of your infestation and what other pests or rodents need to be addressed:
- Basic: Treatments every 50 to 80 days with additional measures such as outdoor rodents, storage pests and aphids.
- Pro: Treatments every 30 to 60 days (April to October) or every 50 to 80 days (November to March). Includes basic add-ons and mosquito treatments.
- Premium: Treatments every 20 to 40 days (from April to October) or every 50 to 80 days (November to March). Includes all basic and pro add-ons.
How to Keep Unwanted Spiders Out of Your Home
One way to keep spiders out of your home is to use scents that spiders hate as a deterrent. This can be an inexpensive DIY solution to spider control in your home, especially if you are dealing with brown widows (as they tend to be solitary creatures).
One study concluded that two compounds can reliably deter several species of spiders: peppermint and chestnuts. According to the study, chemicals released by peppermint and chestnuts can be effective at removing (and keeping away) several species of common indoor spiders.
Stock up on peppermint oil or horse chestnut extract below so you can fortify your home as soon as you spot the first spiders.
Here are some additional tips to keep brown widows and other arachnids away from your home:
- Vacuum your house regularly from top to bottom.
- Make sure that the rooms in your house are clean and free of clutter, as messy and dusty rooms are spiders’ best friends.
- Remove the food source and reduce the chance of other insects entering by washing fruits and vegetables, rinsing drains with hot water, and cleaning out trash cans regularly.
- Enlist the help of a furry friend: Dogs and especially cats are often very alert to spiders scurrying around your home. They are also the best at combating these spiders.
If you are dealing with a larger infestation, you will want professional help. Most pest control companies offer customized services for the control and removal of spider infestations. For example, Orkin will send spider experts to thoroughly inspect your home before creating a detailed plan on how to kill spiders in your home and keep them out by holes or cracks where spiders could slip in.
