Black Widow Spiders in Tennessee | Pest ID Guide
Quick Facts About Black Widow Spiders
Black widows are one of Tennessee’s two medically significant spiders. They’re shy and usually bite only when pressed against skin, often when someone reaches into a woodpile, shed, or garage corner without looking.- Size: Females have a body about 1/2 inch long; males are much smaller
- Color: Females are shiny black
- Key marking: A red or orange hourglass shape on the underside of the abdomen
- Webs: Messy, irregular, very strong webs, usually low to the ground
- Where found: Woodpiles, sheds, garages, crawl spaces, meter boxes, and under outdoor furniture
- Species in Tennessee: Southern and northern black widows
How to Identify a Black Widow
The red hourglass is the classic sign. On the southern black widow it’s usually a complete hourglass; on the northern black widow it’s often split into two separate marks.Males and Young Spiders
Males are small, with lighter markings, and aren’t dangerous. Young black widows can be brown or gray with red, orange, and white markings and don’t look like adults yet.
Where Black Widows Build Webs
- Woodpiles, stacked lumber, and brush
- Sheds, barns, and garages, especially in corners and under shelves
- Crawl spaces and unfinished basements
- Water meter boxes, utility boxes, and irrigation valve boxes
- Under outdoor furniture, grills, and play equipment
- Inside gloves, boots, and equipment left outside
Black Widow Bites
The venom affects the nervous system. Serious reactions are uncommon and deaths are extremely rare, but a bite always deserves medical attention.- What happens: A pinprick feeling, then pain that can spread from the bite over the next hour or so.
- Possible symptoms: Muscle cramps and stiffness, especially in the abdomen, back, or chest, plus sweating, nausea, and headache
- First aid: Wash the area, apply a cold compress, and stay calm.
- Get medical care: For any suspected black widow bite, and immediately for a child, an older adult, or severe pain or cramping. Treatment is available.
How to Prevent Black Widows
- Wear gloves: When handling firewood, lumber, rocks, or stored items.
- Move woodpiles: Keep firewood away from the house and off the ground.
- Clear clutter: In sheds, garages, and crawl spaces.
- Shake out gear: Check gloves, boots, and equipment left outdoors.
- Seal gaps: Caulk cracks and add door sweeps to garages and sheds.
- Remove webs: Clear webs from outdoor furniture and play areas regularly.
When to Call a Professional
If you’re finding black widows around play areas, entryways, or storage spaces, a technician can treat harborage areas and help reduce the insects they feed on. See our spider control services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are black widow spiders in Tennessee?
Yes. Both southern and northern black widows are found in Tennessee.
How do I identify a black widow?
Adult females are shiny black with a red or orange hourglass on the underside of the abdomen.
What are the symptoms of a black widow bite?
A pinprick feeling, then spreading pain, muscle cramps and stiffness, sweating, nausea, or headache.
Is a black widow bite deadly?
Deaths are extremely rare, but any suspected bite should be seen by a doctor, and children and older adults should get care immediately.
Where do black widows hide?
Low, sheltered spots like woodpiles, sheds, garages, crawl spaces, and utility boxes.
Schedule a Free Inspection
Found black widows around your home? U.S. Pest Protection will inspect at no cost. See our spider control services.A real TN person answers. No call center.
Free inspections across Middle Tennessee from your local, family-owned team.
