One of the most recognizable spiders in the world, the black widow is known by its small, beady shape, glossy black coloration, and red hourglass on its abdomen. Building messy webs with no perceivable organization, black widows are found across western North America.
These spiders are one of the few considered dangerous to humans, though no confirmed fatalities occurred in the past several decades the bites are extremely painful and frequently require hospitalization. Black widows favor tall grass and dry firewood to hide in, so keeping the area around your house clean and orderly without buildups of undisturbed natural materials will help discourage black widow spiders.
