Brown Widow Spider

Description:

An exotic species...very timid..pic 5 shows one "playing possom". Brown widow spiders usually curl up into a ball, and drop to the ground as a primary defense. It is highly recommended that people leave this spider alone; observe, but don't touch. Males and immatures do not bite. The brown widow is an extremely timid spider which has rarely been reported to bite. BugGuide

Habitat:

These spiders were found under the lip of the watering trough my students use to fill their watering cans. They are commonly found at school under the edges of pots that have been sitting around outdoors.

Notes:

If an eggsac is present, this is the best identifying characteristic. Brown widow eggsacs are tan, spherical, and have many small tufts of silk sticking out from them. They resemble a 'sandspur.' The other widows make white, smooth eggsacs that tend to be pear-shaped. BugGuide