Went to check the mail and found a DEADLY surprise.....

A

Adam Reese

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Nov 4, 2010
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400
So.....



My wife has been telling my about something called a Brown widow spider that she saw on the news. I know about Black widows, but I have never heard of a brown widow. Well my wife goes out to check the mail and calls me to come quick, brings some spray, etc.

This is what was in the mailbox...
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I have heard some contradictory stories as to how venomous these things really are. Either way I don't want to get bitten by one, thats for sure. Do any of you guys have these things around?

-Adam
 

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I've seen them and always thought they were the non venomous male black widow!
 
First I've heard as well. It does look odd, especially from what I am used to.
 
I am glad not to have any of those bugs arrond me (at least that I know off). At least for me, the scary thing about bugs is that they are too small to notice them arround. And by the time you notice them, you might be too close. That's exactly why I do all my hiking and climbing over the tree line. Weeeeeell over the tree line. Sub-zero temps, snow and ice preferred. LOL. That said, I have seen my share of little bugs in the snow! Seems like the wind brings them or something. I can't think of any other reason for those critters to be there. There is nothing to eat and it is definitelly to cold for them.

Mikel
 
HA knew it would be a spider. So far I have found 4 venomous hobo spiders in mine, two black widows, and a Brown Recluse. I wear gloves when I check the mail now. Also Hobo-spiders aren't all venomous just the ones here; as well as can grow up to about 4 inches across. Imagine sticking your hand into that things nest?
 
I hate spiders....not so much afraid- it is an active hate. I have been bitten many times doing farm work, been on courses of steroids for them. That said, I do not kill the ones I see outside aside from widows- they die. I killed 4 in ten minutes at my yard one day last week. The ones inisde the house have short lifespans...outdoors is theirs but not inside my house!

I do not use pesticides outside though... affects too many other critters. Definitly use gloves anytime you are picking something up off the ground that has been there for more than a couple of days.

The one pictured looks similar to some I have squished but I have honestly not looked close enough to call it for sure.

Bill
 
I hate spiders too, and deadly or not, I try to stay as far away from them as I can. This thing made me think of all the times I have gotten the mail out and not even looked where I was putting my hand.
 
I think it looks pretty cool in brown. Good thing you did not get a nasty surprise bite. Thanks for sharing, hopefully you put him? somewhere safe for it and you
 
Hopefully Joe will be along shortly, and we can get the straight scoop from him.
 
Thanks for a timely reminder. I may just go home and hit my mailbox with a shot or two of bug spray. Couldn't hurt!
 
I haven't found one yet, but that is a splendid specimen, I think. How big is it. It looks to be a male, which have much more elaborate markings thin the females in all latrodectus
 
Seen many cases of cellulitis from spider bites. Fortunatley, the only Spyder bite I ever got was from a Endura.
 
If you still have the specimen, put it in isopropyl and send it back to UGA. They may need a site locality.
Average US death per year...less than .5%.......Meaning less than half of 1 % of 100% are deadly. To the point where there hasn't been a death from our little black friend since 2000.....

woot science! Also big props goes out to spiders.....why?
 
I'm more confident handling ANY spider than petting any dog (and I LOVE DOGS) . Dogs bite for no reason. Cats? Don't get me started. Birds think its funny to bite..
Most Spiders need to be physically detained to be forced to bite, meaning they need to pressed upon to elicit a biting response. That happens though, bringing firewood from the stack to the house. In the old days, putting arse on a privy. You have to make a spider (that isn't guarding eggs) very angry to bite. Despite their alien appearance, most spiders are non-aggressive when it comes down to it.
 
Not an expert in spiders, but there is also the possibility that it was not a brown widow spider but a brown spider or recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa), which is also venomous, lethal in some cases. I thinks is a good idea to send it to where it could be identified (they can be found in Georgia, among other places in the USA).
 
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