One of the deadliest spiders in the world is resurfacing in the US – here’s what to look out for

Scientists and pest control experts are urging residents of Texas, Arizona and other southwestern states to remain vigilant as deadly black widow spiders return this summer.

Females of this species can strike with a powerful neurotoxic venom, 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake bite, experts warn, and used for defense and to paralyze prey.

The poison, known as latrotoxin, can cause severe muscle pain and spasms, heart problems and abdominal cramps and can paralyze the diaphragm, leading to serious breathing problems – but it is especially a threat to children, the elderly and the sick.

Texas A&M entomologists advised locals to “take precautions when handling stored items or working in areas where these spiders might hide,” especially “undisturbed locations such as basements and storage areas.”

The scientific consensus remains that the species is not aggressive towards humans unless threatened.

Here’s what you need to know to stay safe as another “black widow summer” descends on the American Southwest.

“They prefer cluttered spaces,” says Bryant McDowell, a pest control specialist who provides training and seminars on the subject for Texas A&M University.

“I have personally encountered black widow spiders hanging out in outdoor trash cans, in smoke pits of barbecue grills that have been untouched for a while, and under patio furniture,” McDowell said.

Black widows generally prefer to hide in fortified shelters closer to the ground, McDowell explains advice this springincluding under rocks, wooden posts, holes dug by other animals and hollowed out tree stumps.

A major sign that a black widow may be nearby is their unique messy webs.

“Look for webs that look like they were spun by a very drunk spider!” explained TJ Martin of the University of Arizona Cochise County Master Gardeners program.

“The black widow typically spins a very messy-looking web,” Martin said, “[it] bears little resemblance to the stereotypical, neat and symmetrical web of most spiders.’

In June, state residents should be most alert to the species’ reemergence in their area, according to a University of Arizona fact sheet, because black widows are “very active during warm summer nights.”

Half of all snake-on-spider attacks occurred in North America. Pictured: A lined snake killed in a black widow spider web in a building in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Meteorologist Cody Gottschalk told local TV station KTRE in Polk County, Texas that he almost accidentally handled a black widow just before mowing his lawn in May.

“I reached over to where the steering wheel was,” Gottschalk said KTRE“I saw something rushing and sure enough, it was probably the biggest black widow I’ve ever seen.”

Daniel Shank, owner of Broken Arrow Pest Control, told the station that a recent wave of warm and wet rainy weather in East Texas has increased the population of insects that arachnids like the black widow feed on.

“They feed on insects that roam around these areas,” he said.

Shank’s advice to locals is to always carry a flashlight when looking for these jet-black spiders, which, like many other spiders and scorpions, reflect light vividly.

“They’ll shine when a flashlight hits them,” Shank explained.

Pest control experts, health professionals and spider experts agree that the venomous bite of the black widow poses a major threat to children, the elderly and the sick. Many healthy adults, they note, have survived spider bites from black widows

Pest control experts, health professionals and spider experts agree that the venomous bite of the black widow poses a major threat to children, the elderly and the sick.

Many healthy adults, they note, have survived spider bites from black widows.

“Black widows have always had a bad reputation because they are quite venomous, which is unfortunate,” says Francisco Garcia, an insect and arachnid expert and entomology manager at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado.

“But we shouldn’t forget that spiders are super important for the environment,” says Garcia said last year.

However, for many homeowners, especially those with at-risk loved ones, experts recommend safely removing black widows from their properties.

“I like spiders, I let them do their thing,” said Gottschalk, the Texas meteorologist.

“But when it comes to black widows, we don’t let them hang around. That had to be addressed.’