It is a dark California evening. On one side of the court you have the Blacks- revered and deadly; their reputation is known worldwide. On the other side the lesser known Browns sit and wait, they have been snatching up Black territories all summer. Cute kids play basketball amidst the tension, unaware of the Spider Turf War brewing beneath the benches.
You read me right, Spider-Turf-War. Spider enthusiasts take note! This scene is playing out all over the United States right now. We, as humans, share many behavioral characteristics with other animals. If you thought we were the only ones to fight for prime real estate and go to war you are wrong.
The crazy part about this turf war, the Black Widow vs. Brown Widow turf war, is that the Black Widow remains a force to be reckoned with. Black Widow bites are still much more dangerous than Brown Widow bites and yet the Brown Widow is taking over control of much of the Western U.S. I suppose this is good news for human kind, but what is going on here? Of 72 areas in California studied, each had 20 times more Brown Widows than Black Widows. If you know anything about spider behavior this may not be so surprising. They both enjoy a good, tight, dark spot to hang out in. How many of those spots can there be right?
Current theories for this issue vary greatly. Perhaps the Brown Widow is mating more often, yielding more live offspring, or simply not dying off as easily as their Black counterparts. It is also possible that typical Brown Widow hang-outs are being threatened or destroyed, leaving them to move into Black Widow territory in large numbers.
Despite this influx in Brown Widow movement there has been no reported increase in spider bites in the areas. Neither breed is known to intentionally attack a human unreasonably. Both will attack if they are disturbed. There is some confusion about who is more dangerous to humans; Some reports say one while others the other. The Brown Widow has venom twice as toxic as the Black Widow-BUT they inject less than half as much of it. This means the Brown Widow is slightly less lethal.
As with any turf-war, locals beware. During this heated battle, avoid dark spaces of any size. Check under chairs and patio furniture before you sit down. Try to keep outdoor toys, litter, and decorations moved or cleaned on a regular basis. Check your pet’s surroundings for ideal arachnid hiding places. Many years ago I witnessed a 15 lb dog die in minutes after stumbling in to a bed of Black Widows in a rotten log. His owner was bitten once while trying to save him and recovered in the hospital.
If you or your pet is bitten by a spider, any spider, try to safely capture the spider in a container to take to the hospital or veterinarian. This can make a big difference in treatment and recovery.
