Southern Black Widow

Description:

Males: 3-5 mm long with an elongated abdomen. The male’s legs are larger than the female’s and each joint is orange brown in the middle and black on the ends. On the sides of the male’s abdomen there are four pairs of red and white stripes. Female: The adult female black widow spider has a glossy jet black color all over, including body and legs. The only red marks are the bright red hourglass mark on the underside of the abdomen, and a red spot just behind and above the spinnerets. The hourglass marking consists of two connected red triangles on the underside. Note, however, that the hourglass color may range from yellowish to various shades of orange or red.

Habitat:

Outdoors, black widow spider webs are usually built in woodpiles, rubble piles, under stones, in hollow stumps, and in rodent burrows. These spiders commonly occur in outbuildings such as privies, sheds, and garages. Indoors, they prefer undisturbed, cluttered areas in basements and crawl spaces. It is also associated with littered areas, with dumps of large cities, with garages, and storage sheds.

Notes:

Not sure if this one is male or female. It is the third widow I have found today. Two not pictured were brown. I was surprised to find them near the garage door when it has been opened and closed several times this week and actually the entire garage was cleaned and organized. The one pictured was set up under a small Webber grill I move to the patio each time I use it. While rolling it in position earlier today to grill dinner I felt something graze my finger under the handle and after my flinch reaction I was unable to find anything. I'm wondering if this is what I felt.