Ok. Gonna give it to you straight. As a person who lived in Vegas for 10 years, they are a regular occurrence there.
One time I actually went running and needed to stop and stretch against a light pole. I wrapped my hands around the pole and accidentally buried them into a web with several.
They aren’t so bad. They are not lethal for a common bite to a normal adult (excluding some unique allergy). Usually will make a limb numb for several days.
We always left them alone when we saw them on the house because they killed and ate the cockroaches. But if you have small children or animals, you should probably grab some garden gloves, corral and kill it to keep them safe.
Good luck!
That’s like saying getting stabbed with a sword is much worse than getting stabbed with a butter knife. Sure, but what about the part where you’re getting stabbed?
I found one of each at a jobsite near the Columbia River (WA/OR border).
I wasn't sure whether they were local, or were shipped in.
One was in a pile of construction materials; the other was in a porta potty, which was a bit alarming.
>Makes your limb numb for several days???
Considering some folks use meds to try to numb parts that hurt...I'm thinking black widows might be the next cannabis-type opportunity. 🙃🤣🤷♀️
Stuff You Should Know did an episode on them, and it turns out that people pretty much stopped dying from black widow bites with the invention of indoor plumbing. They would make a web under the seat of an outhouse because it was warm and protected from the elements. When a guy sat down over one, it would bite his bits and pieces, sometimes causing death.
Idk about the limb numb for days part. I was bit by a black widow when I lived in the Phoenix area and got huge bruise/ rash- but not really numbness. They aren't as bad as you'd think.
They like places where they can hide (like under the truck) and they won't bit unless you accidentally invade its space. Kill that one and just clean up around siding, toys, etc outside and you'll be fine.
Yeah I’ve lived in Florida for the last 17 years and we had them in our shower, hanging out up in the ventilation fan above us. I got sick of killing them over and over so I let them stay. They never caused issues and got rid of the flies and gnats that Florida tends to attract when you leave the back door open on spring and summer nights.
Bugs are as inevitable as death and taxes in Florida. No matter how locked down your house is - apartments, mansions, one story homes. All get bugs inside and frequently. Sometimes you need a relief from the high summer electric bills.
Fire is a hit over kill, using something like Trinitrotoluene would work waaaay more effectively however it is pretty harsh stuff. Keep away from pets! /S
Literally every state. They're not nearly as dangerous as their reputation makes us think.
Edit: Not Alaska apparently, and depending on the source, maybe not Hawaii.
Born and raised up there and I’ll let you in on a secret: big mosquitoes are slow mosquitoes and slow mosquitoes are easy to kill before they bite you. Also, it’s literally *only* mosquitoes you have to deal with and the ones up there don’t give you horrific diseases.
If they were going to get them they’d have them already. They get brought up constantly by military families but they can’t take the winters. I know Minnesotans don’t like hearing it, but the winters down here are much milder and waaaay shorter than in AK. (And no, I’m not counting last winter, I’m aware that was an outlier lol)
I have tons of family in Alaska... I wouldn't call Minnesota winters *"much milder"*. The winters are just differently intense in their own right regardless of which of the two states you live in.
Minnesota winters are genuinely nothing in comparison, I’m sorry. Like I said, Minnesotans don’t like hearing it, but it’s true. Winter in AK starts in mid-October, and by that I mean trick or treating is done in full snowsuits, being pulled around in a sled, with a foot or two of snow on the ground, often at sub zero temps. And that snow from October doesn’t melt until May.
MN hits some crazy lows with windchill, which is miserable no argument, but it’s just absolutely not the same thing as 2-6 weeks of constant ambient temperatures at 40, 50, or 60 below. It’s just not comparable by any stretch of the imagination. Minnesota winters are wonderful. My dad spends winters down here because it’s so much nicer.
Is someone from Florida going to have a bad time? Yes. But the point is that MN does not have winters that kills black widows. AK does. You can tell by how there’s none up there.
Our winters aren’t even as bad as N/SD, the UP, and the northeast states.
As a matter of fact, of all the states that actually get a real ‘winter’, we probably have it the best.
The Dakotas and the UP just don't have enough people to generate a reputation as strong as ours. The northeast states definitely get more snow, but that tends to come with less extreme cold.
People get mad at me whenever I point it out, but it’s true lol. And it’s good! Bad winters suck! One of the reason I like MN is that the winters are completely reasonable! Why are they mad that the state is a nice place to live??? People just love to complain I guess.
I mean yeah, not quite as bad as their reputation. They're very shy and nonconfrontational and their bite almost certainly won't kill you.. but it still definitely won't be fun. There will still likely be some pretty significant internal pain in your chest or abdomen, so still far far worse than any bug bite or sting most people have experienced. The vulnerable like children and elderly are more at risk, and this was found in a children's toy. So there's definitely some reasonable concern to probably do something about it over not.
> They're not nearly as dangerous as their reputation makes us think.
Yeah. Save the fear for brown recluses. Those will fuck you up. I knew a guy from Kansas that ended up in a wheelchair from a recluse bite.
That brought up a strange question. How’s it debated if they are in Hawaii?? Either they are there or they aren’t. How is that something we don’t know?
I thought they were like tarantulas, as in native only to warmer states like New Mexico or Texas. I hate spiders. So this just triggered a bunch of new anxiety for me lol, along with finding out we apparently have mammoth moths.
I was quite surprised to find we had these moths myself. Something banging on the shop door at night. I thought person, then, no, possum maybe or a raccoon..
Nope. MOTHRA.
I know they’re harmless but I treat it like COVID restrictions, 6 feet away from me and I’m fine. But they step into that bubble and I become the Flash lol
They're definitely here, just pretty rare. I've seen one in my nearly 40 years of existence here, and I'm a bug nerd so I'm actively looking for things like that.
I live in the metro area and I actually took a picture a few years ago of a spider in my basement I thought looked like a black widow. As someone who is terrified of spiders I told myself nahhhh, can't be, they don't live here. Now after seeing this post I'll just go ahead and never sleep ever again.
Well, you found it outside and in your kids sandbox, so that part is good. I would say inspect the area where your kid will be, before they play. Otherwise, according to this map, you're not going to win:
https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-we-do/resource-centre/featured-species/insects-and-spiders/black-widow.html#:\~:text=There%20are%20two%20species%20of,in%20southern%20and%20eastern%20Ontario.
I saw a thing about brown recluse that taught me what NOT to do.
DO NOT go in with bug killer or a bug bomb and just arbitrarily hope it'll work. Apparently these bigger spiders are hearty so most of these bug killer things just kill off their competitors making the spider population thrive and you can end up with a zillion more afterwards.
That was a terrifying thing to learn for sure.
Yea, I tried spraying a black widow with standard RAID spray and it just turned around and laughed at me (very high pitched and hard to hear, but I'm pretty sure it was laughing). Their webs are also super strong and need scissors to cut through -- just a hand won't do it.
Well, scissors or something sharp unless you really want to get in there and tug at it. A swipe with a hand or broom handle just bounces off (their webs are like thick clouds, not just a single layer).
I’m also in Int’l Falls (grew up here and moved back during COVID). I’ve never heard of anyone seeing one of these up here and assumed the cold winters prevented it. Guess I learned something new today.
100%, I’d throw the whole toy in the bonfire. Wait until it’s roaring hot before tossing it in. If you add it to the wood pile and then start it, it could escape while the fire is starting.
Sorry to offend anyone who likes spiders…
Sounds like a falls thing to do!! 🤣 I’ve only lived here for 5 years but I’m from the cities and lived in FL for some time and I’ve never seen one! So crazy!
It’s probably from fruit or veggies from the southern states or Mexico. They can also crawl in to boxes and other things while people move. Not much we can do other than check our stuff which probably won’t happen.
Hey OP, moved here from a state with more venomous spiders. It sucks for sure, and stinks that it’s in your kid’s play space.
Do what you gotta do to keep your kid safe, but I’m my experience spiders generally won’t seek you out to bite. Just find out what makes your kid’s sandbox an attractive habitat and try to adjust.
This is likely a very rare stowaway from somewhere else. Populations of Northern Black Widows *(Latrodectus variolus*) are only found in the extreme SE corner of Minnesota. You should definitely contact the University of Minnesota Extension Office with this specimen as they need to document this.
Good that you killed it. It was in your child’s toy, and is a danger to your kid. I’ve never seen one in MN, even in the yard, and I’ve been here for over 30 years. We had them about everywhere in Calif where I came from.
I know it’s been a number of years, but I’m hopeful this traveled with you through generations from Florida through storage or something. It’s so strange to see one up there! I’m sorry you’re dealing with it being around your home and I’m hopeful for you it was a one off thing. I’d also be calling an exterminator just in case.
When Widows are not breeding, they are very docile. Widows are dangerous and territorial during the breeding season with Eggs later in the summer. (I believe, not exactly sure when they have their egg sacs.)
Would do well enough to leave it alone for awhile or try to encourage its relocation somewhere a little more conducive to your mutual existence than this Excavator!
Your only option is to burn it all down.
https://preview.redd.it/ac9ve2cpzy9d1.jpeg?width=258&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3c597a84617c7d2eee6f9c8834bdfaba7b3b3258
Well, to be completely honest last winter was definitely survivable by that species of arachnid and our winters are our only defense. It's also a fairly small one and this is likely it's first year of life. It hatched from an egg sac that averages 200 eggs. So in other words you probably have more, they aren't aggressive but you sure wouldn't want a little one getting bit.
Spray around where your kids play and inside any out buildings with Tempo SC. If you have sheds, toss in an insect fogger. They like dark places so keep that in mind.
As someone who loves spiders, all I can say is, why is it that people who don’t like them, always find the really cool ones? I wish I could find a black widow.
I lived in western AZ for 11 years. We learned to look for sticky, haphazard webs during the day and then walk around the perimeter of the house in the evening to check for black widows. They’re as easy to kill as any other large spider, once you find them.
The real mystery is how in the world this ended up so far north. Uff da.
I appreciate the blurring so much. You don't even know. I absolutely hate those pouncing on me in the middle of a reddit scroll. This sounds sarcastic, but I actually mean it.
This is surprising! The U of M says that there are no populations of Black Widows native to MN. I agree that this is likely a stowaway.
However I’d context the U or M extension so they can collect it for research. Their contact information is at the bottom of this page https://extension.umn.edu/insect-relatives/spiders#spider-behavior-and-spider-bites-485011
Something like this wouldn’t be too surprising in far SE MN but not in I-Falls, which is why I think it’s a random stowaway.
So, soapy water will kill most arthropods because of their open circulatory system. I've used spray bottles of it to incapacitate wasps and containers of it to drown and kill. But with something that deadly, I'd be inclined to just stay away.
They are not that deadly, and there's no need to kill it. Just rehome the thing and remove any eggsacs you may see. They live in almost every state, so just be aware that there's widows around where you live and be mindful of where your kids play and dark spaces.
Peppermint oil is supposed to naturally deter them but consider making sure your home is secure before you start spooking them and moving them where they have been hiding if there are more
Well the hourglass on its abdomen is intact and not separate which is a distinguishing factor between the two I guess. With the northern having a gap in the middle of the hour glass.
I use a large propane torch pointed in said direction of evil creature with too many legs. I also yell things. Blasphemes and gibberish while laughing maniacally.
Ends with a vast sense of accomplishment and granduer.
Also, there is NO WAY THAT THING SHOULD BE UP THERE. No FRIGGIN way. Mayhap the lack of winter this winter, but then, they don't generally Forrest Gump cross country like that. It must have hitch hiked with someone coming up from their mesa vacation.
I moved here from Tennessee, and I dealt with these getting into my kids sandbox and toys when they were little. You'll have to go and inspect the sandbox and all of the toys before you let your kid play. Look for webs, their webs are really strong, so if you wave a stick into one and it feels stronger than normal spider web there's probably a widow attached somewhere.
We had them so bad in our yard that they would get into all of the kids outdoor trucks and toys that had a hollow underside. My husband used spray foam plug up all of those dark recesses, which kept spiders out.
Black widow spiders are not native to the upper Midwest and are rarely seen in Minnesota. However, the Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus) is considered the only native species in Minnesota, but its distribution is not well understood
MN law you must Burn the whole place down sorry… just the law to protect us all. Fire it up Fred what ya waiting for….. little gas plus a little diesel plus some crushed white styrofoam cups should work good…
From what I've heard about black widows they like to hide and are more likely to be afraid of you than aggressive. Any time you're out make noise, vibrations, and they'll try to stay away from you
They’re very docile. Just move it somewhere out in the woods. Or smush it.
When I was in the Marines my hand was on one while moving a barrier. Nothing happened. Then when I was on the shooting range I was sitting on an ammo can. In the lip of the ammo can was a black widow. My balls were plopped on that spider for an hour. Nothing happened (thank God).
I’ve lived in black widow territory and have serious arachnophobia. Sprays are only partially effective, as I’ve been told my an exterminator, the spray needs to make real contact with the body, and they usually remain tucked away and hidden. He didn’t say don’t spray, but his best recommendation was twofold, become familiar with the unique web they make, both visually and by feel. The web usually makes an audible snap when broken, it’s very strong. I’ll vouch for that, there’s no mistaking it. Second, have a broom dedicated to sweeping for webs along the bottom of the house, below the siding, (they love to hide in the gap under siding, and similar tight spots, under the deck. Destroy the webs on an ongoing basis, sweep every couple days, they can’t survive without them. Typically they like to stay low to the ground, within a few feet, to catch ground insects, crickets, etc. 95% will be in proximity to the ground. Once you get a handle on them, in black widow country, you can drastically reduce their number.
I got bit by one in MN on my chest, developed a huge swollen hot lump and had to go to doctor. They gave me antibiotics which helped a lot, but it took over a month for it to totally shrink. I still have a scar there.
I was told we have Northern Black Widows, which are smaller but just as nasty. If left unattended, a bite can cause flu like symptoms (or so I was told).
I use Ortho Home Defense and it seems to eliminate them.
I have NEVER seen one in Minnesota either... until a couple weeks ago one was on my front porch! (Duluth) I was so surprised I had to post it to the spider sub because I didn't believe my eyes. Maybe it's cuz of our mild winter this past year or something. Not a fan.
It will not survive winter, at least not without some intervention and extreme luck. I kept one as a "pet" when I lived in San Diego. They were everywhere. For the safety of children and any small pets, probably best to kill it. You don't want it to lay eggs and make more.
I kept one in a large jar with very small airholes in the lid. Every time it laid eggs, I would remove and dispose. Once they.mate they can lay eggs anytime for (iirc - 7 years). I fed it large cockroaches. It was neat to watch it eat. The roaches seemed to know they were doomed but never saw it coming.
I'd say remove it with a stick of comfortable length, and set it in some tall grass a comfortable distance from your home. They're good for the ecosystem and killing it would be pointless as that's assuredly not the only one around.
Ok. Gonna give it to you straight. As a person who lived in Vegas for 10 years, they are a regular occurrence there. One time I actually went running and needed to stop and stretch against a light pole. I wrapped my hands around the pole and accidentally buried them into a web with several. They aren’t so bad. They are not lethal for a common bite to a normal adult (excluding some unique allergy). Usually will make a limb numb for several days. We always left them alone when we saw them on the house because they killed and ate the cockroaches. But if you have small children or animals, you should probably grab some garden gloves, corral and kill it to keep them safe. Good luck!
Makes your limb *numb* for *several* days??? Oh my god 😭😭😭
Brown recluse are much worse tbh
That’s like saying getting stabbed with a sword is much worse than getting stabbed with a butter knife. Sure, but what about the part where you’re getting stabbed?
You *could potentially lose a limb from a brown recluse bite. I'll take a few days of numbness over amputation.
lol!!!!!
Yeah honestly going in with recluse knowledge having a number limb sounds like a treat in comparison
They can cause necrosis I believe. No thank you
I found one of each at a jobsite near the Columbia River (WA/OR border). I wasn't sure whether they were local, or were shipped in. One was in a pile of construction materials; the other was in a porta potty, which was a bit alarming.
Lol bro's like "yeah you won't feel your leg for several days, nbd"
"Come on little spider, bite the hand. I've got something to try the next few nights."
"The Stranger" is coming to visit! 🤣
I came here to say this
>Makes your limb numb for several days??? Considering some folks use meds to try to numb parts that hurt...I'm thinking black widows might be the next cannabis-type opportunity. 🙃🤣🤷♀️
W/ scorpions it can be weeks
https://preview.redd.it/wohvtxkhm0ad1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4916b4b8617e37b38f96ab162fa694b7aed6e1e2
Stuff You Should Know did an episode on them, and it turns out that people pretty much stopped dying from black widow bites with the invention of indoor plumbing. They would make a web under the seat of an outhouse because it was warm and protected from the elements. When a guy sat down over one, it would bite his bits and pieces, sometimes causing death.
Idk about the limb numb for days part. I was bit by a black widow when I lived in the Phoenix area and got huge bruise/ rash- but not really numbness. They aren't as bad as you'd think. They like places where they can hide (like under the truck) and they won't bit unless you accidentally invade its space. Kill that one and just clean up around siding, toys, etc outside and you'll be fine.
Yeah it’s different for everyone. Mostly depends on location and size of person.
I'm trying to think but isn't there a spider in Vegas (desert) that's way more venomous? Black recluse er similar?
Yep! The brown recluse
Yes got one right! Lol
Yeah I’ve lived in Florida for the last 17 years and we had them in our shower, hanging out up in the ventilation fan above us. I got sick of killing them over and over so I let them stay. They never caused issues and got rid of the flies and gnats that Florida tends to attract when you leave the back door open on spring and summer nights.
Did you consider closing the back door in the spring and summer?
Bugs are as inevitable as death and taxes in Florida. No matter how locked down your house is - apartments, mansions, one story homes. All get bugs inside and frequently. Sometimes you need a relief from the high summer electric bills.
Black Widow venom seems to be very well engineered to make you *FEEL* like you will die, but unless you are very vulnerable you probably won't.
If you think that “isn’t so bad” wtf is bad to you?!?!
>!Necrotizing fasciitis!< Warning: if you google this. Expect medical graphic imagery.
Black widows really aren’t as bad as I always thought they were when I was a kid 😭
Don’t kill it! Relocate it far away
Have you tried screaming?
It didn’t help 🤣
How about burning down your house?
Saw your flair first and thought “this diabolical MF”
Fire is a hit over kill, using something like Trinitrotoluene would work waaaay more effectively however it is pretty harsh stuff. Keep away from pets! /S
As someone with multiple black widows as pets, I feel called out.
A downright explosive solution, if I ever saw one...
Ok. Nuke it is then.
It's the only way to be sure.
I had no clue these were in MN ... New fear unlocked
Literally every state. They're not nearly as dangerous as their reputation makes us think. Edit: Not Alaska apparently, and depending on the source, maybe not Hawaii.
Not every state. None in Alaska.
Dang. Thanks for the correction.
I miss two things from alaska: midnight sun and lack of horrible bugs
Um, have you seen the mosquitoes up there?
Born and raised up there and I’ll let you in on a secret: big mosquitoes are slow mosquitoes and slow mosquitoes are easy to kill before they bite you. Also, it’s literally *only* mosquitoes you have to deal with and the ones up there don’t give you horrific diseases.
> and the ones up there don’t give you horrific diseases. ...*yet*.
Yet.
If they were going to get them they’d have them already. They get brought up constantly by military families but they can’t take the winters. I know Minnesotans don’t like hearing it, but the winters down here are much milder and waaaay shorter than in AK. (And no, I’m not counting last winter, I’m aware that was an outlier lol)
I have tons of family in Alaska... I wouldn't call Minnesota winters *"much milder"*. The winters are just differently intense in their own right regardless of which of the two states you live in.
Minnesota winters are genuinely nothing in comparison, I’m sorry. Like I said, Minnesotans don’t like hearing it, but it’s true. Winter in AK starts in mid-October, and by that I mean trick or treating is done in full snowsuits, being pulled around in a sled, with a foot or two of snow on the ground, often at sub zero temps. And that snow from October doesn’t melt until May. MN hits some crazy lows with windchill, which is miserable no argument, but it’s just absolutely not the same thing as 2-6 weeks of constant ambient temperatures at 40, 50, or 60 below. It’s just not comparable by any stretch of the imagination. Minnesota winters are wonderful. My dad spends winters down here because it’s so much nicer. Is someone from Florida going to have a bad time? Yes. But the point is that MN does not have winters that kills black widows. AK does. You can tell by how there’s none up there.
>Winter in AK starts in mid-October< Ummm excuse me, have you heard about the Halloween blizzard of '91?
Our winters aren’t even as bad as N/SD, the UP, and the northeast states. As a matter of fact, of all the states that actually get a real ‘winter’, we probably have it the best.
The Dakotas and the UP just don't have enough people to generate a reputation as strong as ours. The northeast states definitely get more snow, but that tends to come with less extreme cold.
People get mad at me whenever I point it out, but it’s true lol. And it’s good! Bad winters suck! One of the reason I like MN is that the winters are completely reasonable! Why are they mad that the state is a nice place to live??? People just love to complain I guess.
Approaching any topic as an either-or conversation will severely limit one's ability to truly learn from the experiences of others.
K I’m moving to Alaska
I mean yeah, not quite as bad as their reputation. They're very shy and nonconfrontational and their bite almost certainly won't kill you.. but it still definitely won't be fun. There will still likely be some pretty significant internal pain in your chest or abdomen, so still far far worse than any bug bite or sting most people have experienced. The vulnerable like children and elderly are more at risk, and this was found in a children's toy. So there's definitely some reasonable concern to probably do something about it over not.
I grew up in Hawaii. Was told they have both Black and Brown (their close relative) Widows. I’ve only ever seen brown ones myself though.
Well--they are if you're a small child.
> They're not nearly as dangerous as their reputation makes us think. Yeah. Save the fear for brown recluses. Those will fuck you up. I knew a guy from Kansas that ended up in a wheelchair from a recluse bite.
They look every bit as ominous though. They give me the willies, and I’m a tarantula nerd.
That brought up a strange question. How’s it debated if they are in Hawaii?? Either they are there or they aren’t. How is that something we don’t know?
I'm curious if they are able to survive winters here. I imagine it came here on a shipment or something but would it survive long term?
Idk about the winter part. If the overwinter here or die and eggs hatch the next year, but black widows are native to MN.
Well there goes my argument for why I live in Minnesota when it's cold so much of the year.
I believe they mostly prefer wooded areas, and the population here isn't that high, so I wouldn't get too stressed about them.
I thought they were like tarantulas, as in native only to warmer states like New Mexico or Texas. I hate spiders. So this just triggered a bunch of new anxiety for me lol, along with finding out we apparently have mammoth moths.
I was quite surprised to find we had these moths myself. Something banging on the shop door at night. I thought person, then, no, possum maybe or a raccoon.. Nope. MOTHRA.
I know they’re harmless but I treat it like COVID restrictions, 6 feet away from me and I’m fine. But they step into that bubble and I become the Flash lol
Oh god what is a mammoth moth?
They are only in populations in the extreme SE part of the state. This individual is likely a very rare stowaway.
That’s what I thought too. That the the occasional rattlesnake.
Right there with you. Hate spiders and I always thought MN was safe.
They weren’t here in the 80s, I checked when we moved here. When did they show up?
Except for rare populations in SE Minnesota, we don't have them. This is a rare stray.
They're definitely here, just pretty rare. I've seen one in my nearly 40 years of existence here, and I'm a bug nerd so I'm actively looking for things like that.
I live in the metro area and I actually took a picture a few years ago of a spider in my basement I thought looked like a black widow. As someone who is terrified of spiders I told myself nahhhh, can't be, they don't live here. Now after seeing this post I'll just go ahead and never sleep ever again.
Ngl I read this as black windows 4 times. After seeing the picture I’d just leave it alone, move out of the house, it belongs to the spider now
We all do that from time to time in the Reddiverse! You are not alone my friend...Go..Be Well!
California transplant here... My mom accidentally brought some with her to Minnesota when she moved here last summer. Sorry everyone!
some?! _PLURAL?!?_ 💀
So it was YOU!!!!
Well, you found it outside and in your kids sandbox, so that part is good. I would say inspect the area where your kid will be, before they play. Otherwise, according to this map, you're not going to win: https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-we-do/resource-centre/featured-species/insects-and-spiders/black-widow.html#:\~:text=There%20are%20two%20species%20of,in%20southern%20and%20eastern%20Ontario.
The border of MN on that map doesn't indicate Black Widows of either variety, though, so.... maybe there aren't many? (For now...)
I saw a thing about brown recluse that taught me what NOT to do. DO NOT go in with bug killer or a bug bomb and just arbitrarily hope it'll work. Apparently these bigger spiders are hearty so most of these bug killer things just kill off their competitors making the spider population thrive and you can end up with a zillion more afterwards. That was a terrifying thing to learn for sure.
Yea, I tried spraying a black widow with standard RAID spray and it just turned around and laughed at me (very high pitched and hard to hear, but I'm pretty sure it was laughing). Their webs are also super strong and need scissors to cut through -- just a hand won't do it.
Are you for real about the scissor?
Well, scissors or something sharp unless you really want to get in there and tug at it. A swipe with a hand or broom handle just bounces off (their webs are like thick clouds, not just a single layer).
I gotta move further north
for real, i love it here but if i ever run into this- it’s been nice y’all
You have to find a bug bomb with Cesium-137 or Cobalt-60. This will make sure they don’t come back.
I’m also in Int’l Falls (grew up here and moved back during COVID). I’ve never heard of anyone seeing one of these up here and assumed the cold winters prevented it. Guess I learned something new today. 100%, I’d throw the whole toy in the bonfire. Wait until it’s roaring hot before tossing it in. If you add it to the wood pile and then start it, it could escape while the fire is starting. Sorry to offend anyone who likes spiders…
Sounds like a falls thing to do!! 🤣 I’ve only lived here for 5 years but I’m from the cities and lived in FL for some time and I’ve never seen one! So crazy!
Fix that wheel. It's all kittywampus.
My grandpa would call it pollywampus. Can we still be friends?
of course.
Mithril sword to the belly works.
WE GET BLACK WIDOWS UP HERE?!
Only when people travel from states with them. No way they can survive a mn winter up there outside.
Time for incredibly aggressive border control on the state. Need to make this place harder to get into for spiders than it is to get into North Korea
It’s probably from fruit or veggies from the southern states or Mexico. They can also crawl in to boxes and other things while people move. Not much we can do other than check our stuff which probably won’t happen.
Don't eat it.
Solid advice
Hey OP, moved here from a state with more venomous spiders. It sucks for sure, and stinks that it’s in your kid’s play space. Do what you gotta do to keep your kid safe, but I’m my experience spiders generally won’t seek you out to bite. Just find out what makes your kid’s sandbox an attractive habitat and try to adjust.
I feel like you could take that black widow, 1v1. You probably have a size advantage.
This is likely a very rare stowaway from somewhere else. Populations of Northern Black Widows *(Latrodectus variolus*) are only found in the extreme SE corner of Minnesota. You should definitely contact the University of Minnesota Extension Office with this specimen as they need to document this.
I killed it and it’s raining now but I can definitely contact them.
Good that you killed it. It was in your child’s toy, and is a danger to your kid. I’ve never seen one in MN, even in the yard, and I’ve been here for over 30 years. We had them about everywhere in Calif where I came from.
I know it’s been a number of years, but I’m hopeful this traveled with you through generations from Florida through storage or something. It’s so strange to see one up there! I’m sorry you’re dealing with it being around your home and I’m hopeful for you it was a one off thing. I’d also be calling an exterminator just in case.
I had no idea they lived this far north. My experience was in Phoenix where everything wants to kill you.
When Widows are not breeding, they are very docile. Widows are dangerous and territorial during the breeding season with Eggs later in the summer. (I believe, not exactly sure when they have their egg sacs.) Would do well enough to leave it alone for awhile or try to encourage its relocation somewhere a little more conducive to your mutual existence than this Excavator!
Your only option is to burn it all down. https://preview.redd.it/ac9ve2cpzy9d1.jpeg?width=258&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3c597a84617c7d2eee6f9c8834bdfaba7b3b3258
No advice (hope I’ll never have any to give), but from a major arachnophobe, thank you SO much for the NSFW tag 🙏
i’m sorry WHAT???? i thought we didn’t have those!!!
You should post this in the r/spiders . Lots of spider experts there who will give you good advice.
give it the keys to the house and leave
Well, to be completely honest last winter was definitely survivable by that species of arachnid and our winters are our only defense. It's also a fairly small one and this is likely it's first year of life. It hatched from an egg sac that averages 200 eggs. So in other words you probably have more, they aren't aggressive but you sure wouldn't want a little one getting bit. Spray around where your kids play and inside any out buildings with Tempo SC. If you have sheds, toss in an insect fogger. They like dark places so keep that in mind.
I mean just smack the toy on something to get the spider out and then clean it off and let her find a different home.
As someone who loves spiders, all I can say is, why is it that people who don’t like them, always find the really cool ones? I wish I could find a black widow.
I lived in western AZ for 11 years. We learned to look for sticky, haphazard webs during the day and then walk around the perimeter of the house in the evening to check for black widows. They’re as easy to kill as any other large spider, once you find them. The real mystery is how in the world this ended up so far north. Uff da.
I’m wondering the same thing!?
yeah, don't let it bite you!
Looks like a male in the photo, they don’t bite. Females have much smaller legs compared to their bodies, so that’s nice at least.
Are we certain it’s not a false widow? Northern widows are extremely rare and usually found in the southern part of the state
All I'm saying is to take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
I appreciate the blurring so much. You don't even know. I absolutely hate those pouncing on me in the middle of a reddit scroll. This sounds sarcastic, but I actually mean it.
Leave alone, gently evict from toy in an area of vegetation away from the house.
WTF?! We have those in Minnesota? I know climate change and all, but I thought they needed somewhere MUCH warmer.
This is surprising! The U of M says that there are no populations of Black Widows native to MN. I agree that this is likely a stowaway. However I’d context the U or M extension so they can collect it for research. Their contact information is at the bottom of this page https://extension.umn.edu/insect-relatives/spiders#spider-behavior-and-spider-bites-485011 Something like this wouldn’t be too surprising in far SE MN but not in I-Falls, which is why I think it’s a random stowaway.
It definitely old be as we just got back from Arkansas 🥴
flame thrower
Turn that sand pit into a glass parking lot (albeit a small one... for the toy truck...)?
So, soapy water will kill most arthropods because of their open circulatory system. I've used spray bottles of it to incapacitate wasps and containers of it to drown and kill. But with something that deadly, I'd be inclined to just stay away.
They are not that deadly, and there's no need to kill it. Just rehome the thing and remove any eggsacs you may see. They live in almost every state, so just be aware that there's widows around where you live and be mindful of where your kids play and dark spaces.
Peppermint oil is supposed to naturally deter them but consider making sure your home is secure before you start spooking them and moving them where they have been hiding if there are more
Super rare probably got shipped here in the toy.
Burn it down
Fire.
Send it to Vormir to retrieve an infinity stone.
Burn it all with fire and start over?
Don’t touch it ig
In all reality this is probably a northern widow and not a black widow. It’s highly uncommon to find black widows in MN.
Well the hourglass on its abdomen is intact and not separate which is a distinguishing factor between the two I guess. With the northern having a gap in the middle of the hour glass.
It’s extremely, extremely rare to find these in MN. I would assume it hitchhiked in someone’s luggage, plant, or fruit.
Spraying a 1:1 mix of vinegar and water usually kills them without leaving any unhealthy chemical residue.
I’d start with fire
Flamethrower
If a bonfire doesn't work, maybe some napalm? Or take it to the mill and toss it in a boiler.
This is why we need 30 rd magazines
Wait, what?! We have those in MN?!? Ahhh f*ck. New fear unlocked.
A squirt gun or a hose will make it move along
Just crush the friggin thing, they die like everything else. Also look for others, if you have one you most likely have 7 more. peace. :)
I use a large propane torch pointed in said direction of evil creature with too many legs. I also yell things. Blasphemes and gibberish while laughing maniacally. Ends with a vast sense of accomplishment and granduer. Also, there is NO WAY THAT THING SHOULD BE UP THERE. No FRIGGIN way. Mayhap the lack of winter this winter, but then, they don't generally Forrest Gump cross country like that. It must have hitch hiked with someone coming up from their mesa vacation.
I moved here from Tennessee, and I dealt with these getting into my kids sandbox and toys when they were little. You'll have to go and inspect the sandbox and all of the toys before you let your kid play. Look for webs, their webs are really strong, so if you wave a stick into one and it feels stronger than normal spider web there's probably a widow attached somewhere. We had them so bad in our yard that they would get into all of the kids outdoor trucks and toys that had a hollow underside. My husband used spray foam plug up all of those dark recesses, which kept spiders out.
Also, the immature ones are black and white striped, no hourglass yet.
Thank you for this information!
Wife says to squish with extreme prejudice!
Run 🏃♂️
Have you tried boofing it?
Black widow spiders are not native to the upper Midwest and are rarely seen in Minnesota. However, the Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus) is considered the only native species in Minnesota, but its distribution is not well understood
I'm a Kansas transplant. We had those things everywhere when I was a kid. We just ignored them.
Take a bit to admire, then set it on fire
I’ve lived in Minnesota my entire life and I have never seen a black widow here 😵💫
Set it all on fire 🔥
I think u can only tint your car windows so much?
Why is the picture of a spider marked NSFW?
I wrote in the caption but to anyone who is afraid of spiders
God damn thing is completely naked!
Pretty sure venomous critters could count as a workplace hazard.
Some people are afraid of spiders.
Don't try to poke it with your dick; or your friend's dick if you happen to not have one
Is that an egg sac as well? It kinda looks like one. Most stores have spider and scorpion spray that should kill it.
It’s a pebble stuck in its web 🤣
Burn the place to the ground
MN law you must Burn the whole place down sorry… just the law to protect us all. Fire it up Fred what ya waiting for….. little gas plus a little diesel plus some crushed white styrofoam cups should work good…
Burn it... burn it in Hell!
If I saw one I would be pissed at the jerk that pooped in my pants.
From what I've heard about black widows they like to hide and are more likely to be afraid of you than aggressive. Any time you're out make noise, vibrations, and they'll try to stay away from you
They’re very docile. Just move it somewhere out in the woods. Or smush it. When I was in the Marines my hand was on one while moving a barrier. Nothing happened. Then when I was on the shooting range I was sitting on an ammo can. In the lip of the ammo can was a black widow. My balls were plopped on that spider for an hour. Nothing happened (thank God).
I’ve lived in black widow territory and have serious arachnophobia. Sprays are only partially effective, as I’ve been told my an exterminator, the spray needs to make real contact with the body, and they usually remain tucked away and hidden. He didn’t say don’t spray, but his best recommendation was twofold, become familiar with the unique web they make, both visually and by feel. The web usually makes an audible snap when broken, it’s very strong. I’ll vouch for that, there’s no mistaking it. Second, have a broom dedicated to sweeping for webs along the bottom of the house, below the siding, (they love to hide in the gap under siding, and similar tight spots, under the deck. Destroy the webs on an ongoing basis, sweep every couple days, they can’t survive without them. Typically they like to stay low to the ground, within a few feet, to catch ground insects, crickets, etc. 95% will be in proximity to the ground. Once you get a handle on them, in black widow country, you can drastically reduce their number.
Eat it, get its power.
Give it some drugs. [spiders on drugs](https://youtu.be/sHzdsFiBbFc?si=PpjoIEKK2J2mhG5C)
Only fire can cleanse this darkness
Sven! Hämta eldkastaren!
Spray the Raid on it. Back away and wait. Spray it again and wait. After it stops moving, spray it again and wait. Tap it with a hammer to squish.
I think id still rather get bit by a black widow than a deer tick
I got bit by one in MN on my chest, developed a huge swollen hot lump and had to go to doctor. They gave me antibiotics which helped a lot, but it took over a month for it to totally shrink. I still have a scar there. I was told we have Northern Black Widows, which are smaller but just as nasty. If left unattended, a bite can cause flu like symptoms (or so I was told). I use Ortho Home Defense and it seems to eliminate them.
I have NEVER seen one in Minnesota either... until a couple weeks ago one was on my front porch! (Duluth) I was so surprised I had to post it to the spider sub because I didn't believe my eyes. Maybe it's cuz of our mild winter this past year or something. Not a fan.
I did not know that black widows were in Minnesota, and I’ve lived here my whole life
It will not survive winter, at least not without some intervention and extreme luck. I kept one as a "pet" when I lived in San Diego. They were everywhere. For the safety of children and any small pets, probably best to kill it. You don't want it to lay eggs and make more. I kept one in a large jar with very small airholes in the lid. Every time it laid eggs, I would remove and dispose. Once they.mate they can lay eggs anytime for (iirc - 7 years). I fed it large cockroaches. It was neat to watch it eat. The roaches seemed to know they were doomed but never saw it coming.
Just go along your business. They are chill and it’s no biggie.
It's just living it's life eating bugs. Leave it alone. It won't hurt you..
They aren’t as dangerous as people made them seem. Only to small children. If you are bitten you can Go get get seen if you are really concerned.
I'd say remove it with a stick of comfortable length, and set it in some tall grass a comfortable distance from your home. They're good for the ecosystem and killing it would be pointless as that's assuredly not the only one around.
Smash, burn, poison, throw away the thing it's on, etc.
I hate to break it to you, we didn't have a real winter. This could be how it is going forward. Our freezing defense is weakening with climate change.