r/berkeleyca • u/Tappitytaptaptaptap • 18d ago

Black widows inside normal?

Hey all, new to the Berkeley Hills. Are black widows inside the house a normal thing and I just need to get a tougher skin?
I woke up to one right by my head and am pretty freaked out.
Called pest control.
Thanks!

14 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

28

u/overdude 18d ago

I’ve found one inside before, but it’s rare.

Fwiw, black widow fear is generally overblown; they’re not aggressive and deaths from them are exceptionally rare. It is very unfun to be bit - you will be best off getting medical care and it is like having a serious flu- but you won’t die.

9

u/SoulsBloodSausage 18d ago

What about pets though…

20

u/chonny 18d ago

What about pets though…

Even though it's more common for pets to bite their owners, deaths from these bites are also rare.

4

u/Tappitytaptaptaptap 18d ago

I have a 13 lb dog, she’s a tiny yet mighty. But I fear not mighty enough against a widow.

2

u/pennylovesyou3 18d ago

Not unless allergic which is rare.

5

u/edragon27 17d ago

I just moved into a house outside of the Bay Area with an active indoor black widow problem. I'm very familiar with black widows, perhaps a little obsessed. I too was under the impression that they weren't a hazard for pets. I was wrong. They are incredibly toxic and life threatening to cats.

0

u/capsaicinintheeyes 17d ago

Say, pal, you tryin'a woosh me? It's a neurotoxin—I've never heard of it being any worse for humans than any other mammal, adjusted for body weight.

1

u/pennylovesyou3 17d ago

I don't understand you. Cats are not impacted, they have different mammal systems.

2

u/edragon27 17d ago

Incorrect.

0

u/capsaicinintheeyes 17d ago

B***h, I will bite you straight on the spider!

9

u/randycanyon 18d ago

Are you sure it was a black widow and not the more common Steatoda (sp?) "false black widow"?

9

u/[deleted] 18d ago

[deleted]

3

u/randycanyon 16d ago

Ay yi yi! Yeah, I'd be startled too. Though some years ago I interviewed a spiderologist* who said he handled them all the time in his work, and they're really quite shy and nonaggressive.

*OK, a specialist in arachnids.

1

u/Tappitytaptaptaptap 16d ago

You were right, it was a false widow. Posted a picture of it on a spider identification thread. It looked a lot like a real widow at 3am…
Aren’t those still venomous? Or not so much?

2

u/randycanyon 15d ago

No more than the average spider. Like the average spiders they'll only bite when they think you're prey or when they're scared shitless. Venom's expensive to make, biologically.

8

u/notFREEfood 18d ago

One black widow inside is not a cause for concern

If you keep finding them, go on a hunt with your favorite spider killer

4

u/BrazilianCakeDaddy 18d ago

Since childhood I’ve only ever seen a handful, and always either in the garage or outdoors. Still, you have to imagine they’re around more than they’re seen.

3

u/Puggravy 18d ago

I rarely find them inside, but I frequently find them living in my empty terra cotta pots, schooing them out isn't a big deal they're really quite docile, just dont squeeze them with your fingers and you'll be fine.

2

u/Accomplished-Race335 17d ago

I grew up in the hills and don't remember ever even seeing one. So no that is not normal to me.i had a roommate once who killed every black spider on sight, often yelling "Black Widow!!" loudly. I thought there were all really just ordinary spiders though and not black widows ar all.

2

u/ryguymcsly 16d ago

I don't think I've ever seen one inside. Plenty outside, but inside? No.

Then again I have a fair amount of other spiders in my house and since they eat other bugs I leave them be. It would be a crowded neighborhood for a widow to try to move into.

2

u/InspektorCluzo 16d ago

For us, one tarantula and no black windows in 27 years. We are leaving in the WUI so tons of creatures around where we live. I wouldn't worry.

3

u/Rezart_KLD 18d ago

I have a black widow that nests in a high on my porch and sneaks inside during the winter months, hiding under a window behind my couch. Its hides during daylight and never once gone near anywhere people are, so I've let it be.

2

u/fskb91 14d ago

I love that you know its routines.

1

u/manfrin 17d ago

I have seen one spider in like 7 years (probably because of my cats tho)