How To Identify Black Widow Spiders

What do black widow spiders look like?

There are actually five different species of black widow spiders in the U.S. Four of these are native, while one is an introduced species. They include:

• Red widow
• Brown widow (invasive)
• Western black widow
• Southern black widow
• Northern black widow

These spiders are part of the family of comb-footed spiders and spin messy, tangled cobwebs, particularly in corners and under eaves. They like undisturbed places that protect them from the elements.

Black widow spiders are often identified by their dark brown to black coloration, as well as the telltale red hourglass symbol on their abdomen. However, there is considerable variety within species: one red widow may have a partial hourglass while another may have no red pattern at all. In addition, males will often have a different pattern than females. Even more challenging is the fact that the hourglass shape is only on the underside of the abdomen.

In general, the different widow spiders will have these characteristics:

• Western black widows have complete typical hourglass shapes that will be red or yellow. As the name suggests, they are found in the western United States. Males are usually light brown while females are shiny black. This species of widow can eject sticky silk directly at their predators.
• Southern black widows have a full hourglass with the bottom half thicker than the top half. Males will almost always have a full hourglass shape. They are found in the southeastern U.S., but as far north as Ohio and as far west as Texas. Females can live up to three years.
• Northern black widow territory ranges up to Massachusetts and even overlaps with the southern black widows. With this species, the hourglass is often split or partial; their coloring is more dark brown than black.
• Red widows have bright red legs, as well as brown to black abdomens. The hourglass is often partial, split or entirely absent. They will also have red, black and orange patterning elsewhere on the abdomen. Native to central and southern Florida, red widows are listed as a threatened species in the U.S.
• Brown widow (invasive) spiders have a reddish shape that looks like a wide hourglass, although the color typically ranges from yellow to dark orange. Males will have variations in the color and shape of their pattern. Their legs are striped, differentiating them from the other black widow species. They contain their eggs in a spiky ball-shaped sac, which is said to look like a sandspur. In just one season, a female can lay 20 egg sacs with approximately 150 eggs per sac. Recent research suggests that brown widows are out-competing the native black widow in the western U.S.