Legend says the female black widow spider devours her male partner after mating, but the American Pest Management Association says this rarely happens. Although storytellers exaggerate about this characteristic of the black widow, the danger to humans is very real. This spider contains venom that has harmful effects on the human body.
Species
Contrary to popular belief, the black widow spider is not just one type of spider. This class --- Latrodectis --- contains five species indigenous to North America. The red widow and brown widow live in the southern climate, with the red widow staying within Florida state lines. The southern black widow lives along the East Coast and in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. The western black widow lives in the western parts of Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. It also lives in the Pacific Coast states and in some of the southern parts of Canada. The northern black widow lives along the East Coast and in eastern Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. All five species contain the venom that makes black widows so harmful.
Venom
Black widow venom contains a neurotoxin that affects the function of the nervous system in humans. One component of the venom --- alpha-Latrotoxin --- binds to receptors in the nerve cells. This substance causes flushing of the face, excessive sweating, inflamed lips, swollen eyelids and spontaneous contraction of the facial muscles used for chewing.
Effects
The bite of a black widow spider results in the appearance of a pale area of skin enclosed by a red ring. The very first symptoms of a bite include severe muscle cramps in the abdomen, shoulders, thighs and back. This type of spider bite also causes sweating, headache, itching, anxiety, vomiting, trouble breathing and weakness. In rare cases, a black widow spider bite results in death.
At-Risk Groups
Some people have a greater risk for adverse events than others. Elderly people and people with high blood pressure have an increased susceptibility to the effects of black widow spider bites. Children do not have the developed defenses of adults, so they also have an increased risk of serious effects. If a black widow spider bites a child or elderly person, take the victim to the hospital. A physician may recommend overnight observation as a precaution.
Considerations
Although black widow venom has serious effects in some people, the California Poison Control System recommends staying calm if bitten. In some cases, the spider does not inject venom into the human, resulting in no serious symptoms. If symptoms do develop, take the person to a nearby hospital. Hospital personnel have medications to treat the muscle cramps and spasms caused by a black widow spider bite. CPCS reports that few people need antivenin --- a treatment used for venomous stings and bites --- for black widow bites.
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