Black Widow Spider Question?

Question

Today I gave my kids red organic grapes for breakfast. I left them on the counter for most of the morning. When I came back to the container, there was a black widow kind of under the grapes. She was alive, but not moving much. Do you think she came in with the grapes or crawled into the container?

Answer 1

A couple of things. First, about the spider itself:

- Black Widow spiders are not usually deadly, especially to adults, because they inject only a small amount of venom.
- Only the female Black Widow is dangerous to humans; males and juveniles are harmless.
- The female Black Widow hangs belly upward and rarely leaves the web.
- The Black Widow is also called the "hourglass" or "shoe-button" spider.

Now, about how it lives:
Both Western and Eastern Black Widows spin webs that lack shape and form. Their webs are erratic in appearance, and the silk is stronger than almost all other arachnids. The black widow spider is shy and nocturnal in habit, usually staying hidden in her web, hanging belly upward. Lives on the underside of ledges, rocks, plants and debris, wherever a web can be strung.

Now, about its food:
Like most arachnids, the Black Widow preys on insects. Prey caught in the web include a variety of insects (cockroaches and beetles) and other arthropods. After ensnaring its prey in the web, the Black Widow makes small punctures in the victim's body and sucks out the liquid contents. Please note, they DO NOT EAT GRAPES!

So, while it is impossible to answer where it came from without a video camera or a time machine (or even prove it was a black widow without actually seeing it, since other spiders are often mistaken for them), I can *definitely* say it was not eating your grapes!! (LOL!)

Check the link below for more information on the black widow, including how to control and remove spiders. Good luck!

Answer 2

Black widow spiders are very dangerous and with one bite can kill with a couple of seconds. Even though they are small they hurt and you will soon be on the floor dead, so the best thing to do is either leave it alone and let it do what it wants, it might go away once the baby is born and just don't open your window or you call an expert on spiders and see if he/ she can clear it. They are more dangerous than a camel spider ( they bite you, your paralysed and they eat your skin).

Answer 3

I would think from under the counter, those grapes went thru the picking, sorting, packing, shipping, stocking, selling, and then eating of...so I doubt it came in the package of grapes, especially since they usually keep them in a cool area at the store
BUT, to always be on the safe side,,wash ALL fruit and veggies before eating them!!!

Answer 4

It could've come in with the grapes. It could've crawled off some other fruit at the market and you just happened to bring it home with you. Not all black spiders are black widows. Try not to worry.

Answer 5

She came in with the grapes,black widows don't move around in the day time, so she had to be there already.

Answer 6

Probably came in with the grapes

Answer 7

Probably came with the grapes

Answer 8

Came with the grapes - if the grapes are not from your area, destroy it since it may be a species that would strive because of lack of natural predators.

Toodles.

Answer 9

Came with the grapes, happens all the time, and no extra charge.

Answer 10

She probably came in with the grapes. Now take it outside before one of your kids dies.