Black Widow

[GB1]

camped out next to my front door. First time I've ever really examined one up close ...

[GB1]

Another shot of her ..

[Don Schaeffer]

yikes! It's not the ugliest of spiders but there is something really scarey about it.

[Liz]

If this had been camped outside my front door, it would not have lived long enough for me to take a live shot. :-)

Is this particular spiders dangerous? I can't remember.

Liz

[armando_m]

Pretty dangerous !! And common where I live.

A sting from this nasty spider can kill little children

The web of these spiders is quite resistant, it clicks louder when broken, very particular, whenever I run into a web like that I'll spray insecticide in the area, and if I see one near my house I kill it. They are usually hidden in dark places.

[GB1]

Yeah, they're famously poisonous.. That red hourglass is a big time warning.

I was going to get up this morning and decide what to do, but she bolted. I sort of wish she was there so that I could have used my macro in the daylight, but at the same time ... I hope I don't see her any more around my condo or garage.

[n8]

as much as I want to live out west, the one nice thing about being in the midwest is the lack of sharp and poisonous plants/animals

[DGK*CRONE]

when I was in high school I use to tap these in jars and feed them small crickets. I love spiders. Black widows are interesting to see eat.

[Sushigaijin]

as much as I want to live out west, the one nice thing about being in the midwest is the lack of sharp and poisonous plants/animals

Um, I wouldn't call it a "lack." I can think of four venomous snakes, two spiders (including black widows) and the poison ivy covering my right arm can attest to it's presence, in Illinois. Poisonous plants are ubiquitous - even the common hedge Yew is deadly toxic to many animals and people.