4 Deadly Spiders Found in Louisiana You Need to Avoid This Summer
The weather is warming up Acadiana, and that means all sorts of critters will be creeping around a little more than usual.
The Brown Recluse, among other spiders start to get a little more frisky in the warmer weather. If you're like most people, you have no clue which ones can seriously harm you if you get bitten.
Sure, we all know what a Black Widow looks like, but there are a few more crawling around that you need to be aware of.
Deadly Spiders Found In Louisiana
From venombyte.com
1) Brown Recluse - Brown Recluse spiders typically exhibit a yellowish-brown to dark brown hue, distinguished by a more pronounced, dark violin-shaped mark located on the upper part of their cephalothorax (rather than on their abdomen).
This violin mark is clearly visible in the photographs displayed here. Their abdomen is consistent in color, devoid of any patterns or markings.
2) Brown Widow -
Brown Widow spiders are primarily tan to medium brown, though their color can range from a nearly cream shade to a deep, dark brown that nearly looks black.
A notable feature is the hourglass-shaped marking on the underside of their abdomen, which is usually orange and sometimes yellow, differing from the red hourglass marking of their black widow relatives.
The pattern on the upper side of a Brown Widow's abdomen varies significantly, often featuring red or white spots aligned down its back's center.
Sometimes black and white patterns may also adorn the sides of its abdomen.
The spider's legs also display bands of yellow/brown and black, visible in certain photos. However, this banding tends to be challenging to discern without ample lighting, causing the legs to seem dark brown or black in dimmer environments.
3) Northern Black Widow - Northern Black Widow spiders are known for their sleek, glossy black coloration, complemented by a striking red hourglass figure on the underside of their abdomen.
Unlike the hourglass seen in some spiders, the Northern Black Widow's emblem is divided, with the lower and upper segments disconnected.
The segment furthest from the spider's head typically showcases a more rounded shape, in contrast to a triangular form.
A distinctive pattern adorns the top of the Northern Black Widow's abdomen: a series of red dots aligned down the center, alongside white stripes that cascade diagonally across the sides.
While the iconic hourglass mark is a common trait among Black Widow spiders, juveniles display a wider variety of markings atop their abdomen.
They often feature red or white dots along the middle of their back and diagonal white stripes along their abdomen's sides. These markings tend to persist into adulthood for the Northern Black Widow, contributing to its unique identification.
4) Southern Black Widow - Southern Black Widow spiders feature a deep, glossy black hue, accented with a vivid red hourglass symbol on the underside of their abdomen.
A red dot is often present at the very end of the abdomen, positioned just above the spinnerets.
The hourglass marking on the Southern Black Widow is characteristically intact, with the lower portion (the part furthest from the spider's head) showcasing corners that are either rounded or squared, giving the hourglass an anvil-like shape.
Young Black Widow spiders exhibit a wide range of markings on the upper side of their abdomen, which can significantly vary.
Commonly, they display red or white dots aligned down the center of their back. At times, red and white patterns may also adorn the sides of the abdomen, adding to their distinctive appearance.
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Gallery Credit: Andrea Vale