Black Widow

Black widows are notorious spiders indentified by the colored, hourglass-shaped mark on their abdomans. Several species answer to the name, and they are found in temperate regions around the world.

This black widow’s bite is much feared because it’s venom is 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake’s. In humans, bites produce muscle aches, nausea, and a paralysis of the diaphram that can make breathing difficult; however, contrary to popular belief, most people who are bitten suffer no serious damage—let alone death. But bites can be fatal – usually to small children, the elderly, or the infirm. The spiders are nonaggressive and bite only in self-defense.