Mississippi Spiders

Mississippi has two venomous spiders: Lactrodectus mactans and Loxosceles reclusa.

• Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)
  • Shiny black with a red hourglass shape on the ventral surface of the abdomen
  • Brown widows (Latrodectus geometricus - see inset) are brown or gray with an orange hourglass shape on the ventral abdomen
  • Black widows are commonly found in dark, cool environments such as outhouses, water meter boxes, wood piles, outdoor toilets, and in patio furniture.
  • Black widows are known for their chaotic web structures.
  • Black widow envenomation can be extremely painful. Pain generally develops within 30-120 minutes of the bite.
  • The bite causes muscle spasms and cramping. Symptoms are initially near the bite site but can spread and affect the entire body.
  • Black widow envenomation may mimic a heart attack in adults or an abdominal infection, such as appendicitis, in children.

• Brown Recluse (Loxosceles Reclusa)
  • Brown with a distinct violin-shaped mark on the cephalothorax.
  • Grows to 1-3 cm in length (1/4-1/2 in inches).
  • They are commonly found in human dwellings.
  • Bites are often painless.
  • The bite site may develop a "bull's eye" or "halo" appearance and progress to an eschar. Severe cases may need to be debrided. Systemic symptoms are more common in children and can involve fever, arthralgia, systemic rash, and hemolysis.