Black widow spiders in Kentucky: how to recognize them and where they hide
Published Updated
By John Stopka, Co-Founder & CEO · Reviewed by John Stopka
Black widows live in Kentucky and southern Illinois. The one to know is the adult female: glossy black, about half an inch long with a round abdomen and a red hourglass underneath. Males are much smaller and brownish and are not the concern. Black widows keep to quiet, sheltered spots — woodpiles, rock piles, sheds, garages and the undersides of outdoor furniture — and build a messy, tough, tangled web close to the ground. Bites happen when one is pressed against skin, usually by a hand reaching into its hiding place.
Are there black widows in Kentucky?
Yes. Black widows are found across Kentucky and southern Illinois; the Illinois Department of Public Health gives them a page alongside the brown recluse [1]. The black widow is one of the spiders on our spiders page.
How do you recognize a black widow?
A glossy black spider about 1/2 inch long with a round abdomen and red markings.
The red marking on the adult female is usually an hourglass on the underside of the abdomen, so it is often not visible from above; some black widows also have red spots on the back. The legs are long and slender, and the abdomen looks like a shiny black bead.
What does a male black widow look like?
Nothing like the female. Males are much smaller, with a slimmer body, longer legs for their size, and brown, gray or black coloring with lighter streaks or spots. They wander in search of females and do not bite people in any meaningful way. Young black widows are also paler and patterned, and darken as they grow.
What does a black widow web look like?
Messy. A black widow does not spin a neat, round orb web; it builds an irregular tangle of strong, sticky strands, usually low to the ground, in a corner or gap, with a denser retreat where the spider hides during the day. The silk is noticeably tough — it resists being brushed away more than other webs do.
What does a black widow egg sac look like?
A round to pear-shaped, papery sac, about the size of a pea or a little bigger, cream to tan, hung in the web near the female. One sac holds many eggs, and a female may make several over a season.
Where do black widows hide?
Hides in quiet outdoor spots like woodpiles, rock piles and dark corners of garages and sheds.
Around a house, that also means the undersides of outdoor furniture and grills, stacked flowerpots, meter boxes and utility covers, crawlspace vents, boxes and clutter in garages, and the space under decks and steps. They rarely come into the living areas of a home.
Are black widows dangerous?
The female's venom can cause serious symptoms, and a bite from one needs medical attention [2]. Black widows are not aggressive — bites almost always happen when a spider is pressed against skin, by reaching into a woodpile, putting on gloves or shoes left in a garage, or sitting on outdoor furniture. If you think a black widow has bitten you, contact a healthcare provider.
How do you keep black widows away?
Take away the quiet places they hide:
- Wear gloves when moving firewood, rocks, lumber and stored items, and look before you reach.
- Keep woodpiles off the ground and away from the house.
- Clear clutter from garages, sheds and under decks, and store items in sealed plastic bins rather than open boxes.
- Shake out gloves, boots and shoes left in a garage or shed before putting them on.
- Check under outdoor furniture and grill covers, especially after they have sat unused.
How does Liberty handle black widows?
As spiders. Spiders are covered by every plan.
Your Service Specialist clears webs and treats where spiders hide as part of your regular visits; how that works is on our spiders page. The brown recluse is handled differently — see our brown recluse article.
When to call a professional
Call when you keep finding black widows or their webs around the house, garage or play areas, or when you have seen egg sacs and want to be sure the hiding places are dealt with.
Common questions
Are there black widow spiders in Kentucky?
Yes. Black widows are found across Kentucky and southern Illinois, and the Illinois Department of Public Health covers them alongside the brown recluse [1].
What does a black widow look like?
The adult female is glossy black, about 1/2 inch long, with a round abdomen and red markings — usually an hourglass on the underside.
What does a male black widow look like?
Much smaller than the female, slimmer, with brown, gray or black coloring and lighter streaks. Males are not the concern.
What does a black widow web look like?
An irregular, tough, tangled web close to the ground, in a corner or gap, rather than a round orb web.
Are black widows covered by a Liberty pest control plan?
Yes. Spiders are covered by every Liberty pest control plan, and black widows are one of the spiders your Service Specialist treats.
Sources
- Illinois Department of Public Health. "Brown Recluse and Black Widow Spiders." https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/structural-pest-control/brown-recluse-black-widow-spiders.html (opens in a new tab)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH. "Venomous Spiders at Work." https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/outdoor-workers/about/venomous-spiders.html (opens in a new tab)