Spiders · Latrodectus mactans and L. variolus
Black widow spiders
Black widows are shiny black spiders, and adult females have a red hourglass or red spots on the underside. Their venom affects the nerves and a bite can cause intense pain and muscle cramps that need medical care, though deaths are extremely rare. They're common outdoors around Southeast Tennessee homes, sheds and woodpiles.
Seasonal activity
When they're active in Southeast Tennessee
Black widows are easiest to find in late summer, when females are full grown and guarding egg sacs.
- January: Inactive
- February: Inactive
- March: Low
- April: Low
- May: Moderate
- June: Peak
- July: Peak
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Moderate
- November: Low
- December: Inactive
Signs
How to tell you have them
- Tangled, sticky, irregular webs in dark corners near the ground
- Glossy black spiders hanging belly-up in a web, showing a red mark
- Round tan or gray egg sacs about the size of a pea in or near the web
- Webs inside meter boxes, water valve covers, and stacks of pots or lumber
- Spiders in shoes, gloves or tools left in the garage or shed
Why they're a problem here
Both the southern and northern black widow live in our region. They like dark, dry, protected spots close to the ground, and a typical Southeast Tennessee property has plenty of them: firewood stacks, crawl space vents, rock walls, sheds, and the utility boxes along the side of the house.
Widows are timid and bite only in defense, usually when someone reaches into a hidden spot or presses a spider against their skin. Most encounters happen during yard work, cleaning out a shed, or putting on gloves or boots that have been stored outside.
If you're bitten
The bite itself may feel like a pinprick, but pain at the site usually builds within minutes. Over the next hour or few hours, symptoms can spread, including painful cramping in the stomach, back or chest, muscle spasms, sweating, nausea, headache and rising blood pressure.
Wash the bite, apply ice or a cold pack, and get medical care promptly, especially for a child, an older adult or anyone with heart problems. Call 911 for trouble breathing or severe symptoms. The Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222) can also advise you. If it's safe, take a photo of the spider, but don't try to catch it.
How we treat them
- 01
Inspect hiding spots
We check the places widows favor around the foundation, crawl space, garage, sheds, decks and utility boxes.
- 02
Remove webs and egg sacs
Webs and egg sacs are knocked down and removed so the next generation doesn't hatch.
- 03
Treat harborage
Products labeled for spiders are applied to cracks, voids and protected areas where widows live, following the label.
- 04
Recommend changes
We point out clutter and stored items that give widows shelter, and the insect problems that feed them.
Prevention
What you can do today
- Wear gloves when moving firewood, lumber, rocks, pots or anything stored outside
- Stack firewood off the ground and away from the house, and bring in only what you'll burn soon
- Keep shoes, boots and gloves indoors, or shake them out before use
- Clear clutter from garages, sheds, crawl spaces and under decks
- Seal gaps around the foundation, vents, doors and utility lines
- Vacuum up webs and egg sacs, then seal the bag and put it in an outdoor trash can
- Look before reaching into meter boxes, valve covers and other dark spaces
When to call us
Pest control
Inspection-first treatment for the everyday pests that get into Tennessee and North Georgia homes.
How we treat itQuestions
Black widow spiders FAQ
Are black widows common in Tennessee?
Yes. Black widows are found across Tennessee and North Georgia, and the southern black widow is the one most people picture. They mostly live outdoors and in garages, sheds and crawl spaces rather than inside living areas.
Can a black widow bite kill you?
It's extremely rare. Clemson Extension notes that no U.S. death from a black widow bite has been reported since 1983. A bite can still be very painful and make you sick, so treat it as a reason to see a doctor, especially for young children.
Do male black widows bite?
Severe bites come from adult females, the ones with the familiar shiny black body and red hourglass. Males are much smaller and far less of a concern, but any widow is worth handling with care.
What's the difference between a black widow and a brown widow?
Brown widows are tan to gray or dark brown with a patterned abdomen and an orange hourglass, and their egg sacs have several small points sticking out. Black widow egg sacs are round with a single small point. Brown widow bites are usually much milder.
References
Last fact-checked October 15, 2026.
Think you have black widow spiders?
Tell us what you're seeing and where. We'll call you back to schedule.