09/17/2026
🕷️ BROWN WIDOWS — THE WIDOW SPIDER MANY PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE
Most people know to watch for the shiny black body and red hourglass of a Black Widow. But there's another widow spider you may find around homes and businesses: the Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus).
Brown widows can range from light tan to dark brown and commonly have patterned or banded legs. They may also have an orange, yellowish, or reddish hourglass marking underneath the abdomen.
🥚 THE EGG SAC IS A BIG CLUE
One of the easiest ways to identify a Brown Widow is by her egg sacs. Unlike the relatively smooth egg sacs associated with Black Widows, Brown Widow egg sacs have a very distinctive spiky, sandspur-like appearance.
⚠️ WHAT ABOUT THEIR VENOM?
Here's something interesting: laboratory research has shown Brown Widow venom can be highly potent. However, Brown Widows generally deliver a relatively small amount of venom, and documented human bites tend to cause less severe symptoms than Black Widow bites.
That doesn't mean you should handle one. Brown Widows are venomous spiders and should still be treated with caution.
🏠 WHERE SHOULD YOU LOOK?
Brown Widows prefer protected areas where their webs won't be disturbed. Check around patio furniture, porches, decks, sheds, garages, fences, outdoor equipment, trash cans, storage areas, and other sheltered areas around the exterior of your home.
If you're finding widow spiders or those unmistakable spiky egg sacs, give us a call.
🕷️ Alliance Pest Control LLC
📍 Serving Clinton, Sampson County & surrounding areas
And remember: not every Widow wears black.