The female black widow is easily recognized by her shiny black body
and red hourglass marking underneath her round abdomen. Although
black widows can be found in nearly every state they are most
common in the southern areas of the United States. The black widow
makes her home in wood piles, under eaves, and other undisturbed
places. The bite of a black widow can be serious and require
medical attention. Symptoms include pain radiating from the site of
the bite, nausea, overall aching of the body, profuse sweating, and
labored breathing.
Review Date: 01/13/2010
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason
Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve,
MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
