Black widow venom is a nerve poison and is even more toxic to humans than the prairie rattlesnake. Fortunately, the amount injected from a black widow bite is very small. With humans, the bite may not be felt at first, although a slight local swelling around two tiny spots may be observed. After a short time, there will be severe pain at the site of the bite which will spread throughout the body. Elevated blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, difficulty in breathing and profuse perspiration may occur in severe cases.
Symptoms usually diminish within several hours and are gone after several days.
Specific medications can be given by a physician that will reduce pain and reduce muscle spasms. It should be emphasized that only four deaths were attributed to black widows from 1960-69 in the U.S. so the incidence of severe reactions to the bite is very infrequent. This spider has a light brown body and legs. The female constructs an irregular web outdoors and indoors in undisturbed dry locations such as basements, garages, closets, and farm outbuildings. The web is not usually used to trap insect prey.