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Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)
Identify it, prevent it, and know when to call. A South Florida guide from Pro-Spray.
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What Is a Southern Black Widow?
The southern black widow is the classic "black widow": a shiny black spider with a red hourglass. It's native to the southeastern U.S. and found throughout Florida. In South Florida neighborhoods it's often less common around homes than the brown widow, but it does turn up in sheds, garages, utility boxes and undisturbed outdoor storage.
How to Identify Them
Adult females are glossy black with a red hourglass on the belly and a round abdomen. Some have a red spot near the spinnerets on top. Males and young spiders are smaller and may have lighter markings. Egg sacs are smooth, round and pale.
Common look-alikes:
- Brown widow: mottled brown with an orange hourglass and spiky egg sacs. See brown widow.
- False widows and other cobweb spiders: dark, but no red hourglass.
Life Cycle and Habits
Females guard egg sacs in their webs. They stay hidden during the day in a retreat at the web's edge and are most active at night. Webs are usually close to the ground in dark, protected places. They're not aggressive and bite mainly when trapped or pressed.
Signs of Black Widows
- Strong, messy webs low to the ground in sheds, garages and woodpiles
- Smooth, round egg sacs
- Spiders in meter boxes, irrigation valve boxes and under outdoor furniture
Is it dangerous?
- Bites
Venomous; bites can cause significant symptoms and should be checked by a doctor.
Bite Safety
Black widow bites can cause pain, muscle cramps, sweating and other symptoms. Seek medical care promptly, especially for children, older adults or anyone with health concerns. Wash the bite and apply a cold pack on the way.
Why They Show Up Around South Florida Homes
Undisturbed outdoor storage, woodpiles, debris, utility boxes and cluttered garages provide shelter. Homes near wooded lots or with sheds see them more often.
Prevention Tips
- Wear gloves when moving wood, debris or stored items.
- Keep woodpiles off the ground and away from the home.
- Clear clutter in garages and sheds.
- Check utility boxes before reaching in.
- Seal gaps under doors and around pipes.
How Pro-Spray Treats Black Widows
We inspect and treat harborage areas outdoors and in garages, remove webs and egg sacs, and apply perimeter treatments. Quarterly service helps keep spiders and their insect food in check.
Where to Check Around a South Florida Home
Black widows like spots that stay dark and undisturbed for long stretches. Around local homes, that often means the inside of irrigation valve boxes and water meter lids, the space behind pool equipment, under the lip of planters, stacked pavers or roof tiles left over from a project, hurricane shutters stored in the garage or side yard, and the frames of storm panels. Before reaching into any of these, take a look with a flashlight or use a tool. Hurricane season prep is a good time to be extra careful, since shutters and panels that have been stored for months are a favorite hiding place.
Kids, Pets and Outdoor Play
Teach children not to reach into dark holes, boxes or under outdoor equipment, and to tell an adult if they see a shiny black spider. Check outdoor toy bins, sandboxes with lids and play sets with hollow parts. Pets usually ignore widow spiders, but keep dog runs and outdoor kennels clear of clutter where webs can form.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous is a black widow bite?
Are black widows aggressive?
Where do black widows hide?
Do black widows come inside?
Reviewed October 2026 by Pro-Spray's family-run team
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