Among Friends

[foxywoods]

In my veggie garden. Was picking the last of my green beans.  Disturbed a planting box on the edge of the raised bed and this "gal" appeared:

[KingstonMom]

@foxywoods 

EEEK! is right!

[foxywoods]

First pic is on the green bean leaf. 2nd pic on egg carton.   Freaked me out.

[Jk9]

I understand the feeling!  I see them frequently in the pasture area.  Fortunately, I just know what they are and be sure to stay safe and out of range.  While a black widow is dangerous, they are quite beautiful with their glossy black bodies and highly visisble red abdomen.  Always be cautious putting your hands in a dark area!

[SilleeMee]

Black widow spiders have been known to make homes inside bundles of grapes. People have found them after buying grapes from the grocery store.

[Icegoddess]

Only the females are venomous.  They're the larger ones.  The red spot on the abdomen is difficult to see since it's underneath, but they also have small red dots in a straight line down the middle of the back.  They have very messy webs, kinda like they were drunk when they did it. 

I try to leave them all (spiders) alone as long as they stay outside.  

[foxywoods]

@SilleeMee   I avoid grapes for this reason!

[SilleeMee]

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@foxywoods wrote:

@SilleeMee   I avoid grapes for this reason!

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@foxywoods 

Me, too!

[foxywoods]

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@Icegoddess wrote:

Only the females are venomous.  They're the larger ones.  The red spot on the abdomen is difficult to see since it's underneath, but they also have small red dots in a straight line down the middle of the back.  They have very messy webs, kinda like they were drunk when they did it. 

I try to leave them all (spiders) alone as long as they stay outside.  

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@Icegoddess  yes the web was unusual.   This one had a very dense almost mesh type web mixed with leaf litter, in a corner of the bed.

pic not great but the strands of web can be seen

we have many spiders here in northern new england but it is odd to see black widows.  when I was a kid the home we moved to had a widow in the garage.

 

[BlueFinch]

Good grief, that does it. I'm not buying anymore bags of grapes. I had a friend who was bitten by a BW spider when using a country out house. Probably a good place for them.

Anyway, he went to the hospital with a scary reaction. He said it was a terrible experience. He became the messenger of warnings for anyone who would listen.