# Black Widow

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-widow/596115>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 13, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-widow/596115 "2011-09-13T00:14:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-widow/596115/21 "2011-09-14T18:12:44Z")

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> [@tr0psn4j](#):
>
> I had, what I assume was the same black widow, build it’s web at the same spot every summer in front of my house. She did this for about 4 years but I’m guessing that about the extent of a black widow’s life span cause I didn’t see it this summer.

Typical [black widow life span](http://www.orkin.com/other/spiders/life-cycle-of-black-widow-spider)is one year, though some have been known to live up to three years.

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**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-widow/596115/22 "2011-09-14T19:34:06Z")

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> [@tr0psn4j](#):
>
> I had, what I assume was the same black widow, build it’s web at the same spot every summer in front of my house. She did this for about 4 years but I’m guessing that about the extent of a black widow’s life span cause I didn’t see it this summer. ☹
> 
> They might not be harmless but what are the odds of them actually seriously hurting you?

Pretty poor, the lethality of widows is overated.

> [@](#):
>
> Eight of 12 patients recovered (had relief of symptoms) within 24 hours, often by 12 hours. Antivenin did appear to bring quicker relief of symptoms. Hypertension was severe but asymptomatic in all patients.\*\* There were no complications or deaths\*\* resulting from BWSE.

[http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=3258082](http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=3258082)

> [@](#):
>
> Mortality/Morbidity  
> In the United States, an average of 4 deaths per year are reported to occur as a result of spider bites.[2] However, **no deaths caused by widow spider envenomation have been reported to the AAPCC since its first annual report in 1983**

> **[Brown Recluse Spider Envenomation: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology](https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/772295-overview)**
>
> In the United States, reports of severe envenomations by brown spiders began to appear in the late 1800s, and today, in endemic areas, brown spiders continue to be of significant clinical concern. See the current distribution map below.

all bolding mine.

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**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-widow/596115/23 "2011-09-14T19:39:21Z")

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> [@outlierrn](#):
>
> Actually, abdominal cramping is the more common symptom of a latrodectus envenomation

You see, her venom is highly neuro-toxic. Which is to say that it attacks the central nervous system; causing intense pain, profuse sweating, difficulty in breathing, loss of conciousness, violent convulsions, and, finally… uh, death.

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**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-widow/596115/24 "2011-09-14T20:40:46Z")

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I’d probably leave it alone if it were in an unused corner. Not everything that looks like a black widow is a black widow, and even real black widows have venom more appropriate to killing things small enough for them to eat.

You can let it merrily eat more pestiferous insects & the like. If it’s really in the way, it makes sense to find some out-of-the-way corner of your yard to stick it, or kill it.

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