Spotting

This is not a black widow and like Katie noted, a juvenile or immature animal would not be reproducing. This is most likely something in the genus Steatoda, which is also known as the "false widows." They are completely harmless.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steatoda

Black Widows do not go out of there way to bite people. They are poisonous and we do need to practice caution. But they will bite only if you mess with their web. They are very shy and retreat with great speed into their hideouts.

Uncool!!! But there were no red marks on this spider that I could see. There were white marks along the back tho. I'm not an insect person so totally unsure but with dogs, horses, and occasionally kids, anything poisonous or aggressive has got to go!

John: Would a JV black widow be able to lay eggs? It was on top of the egg sacks pictured and there were lots of hatchlings all over the sacks as well.