Brown widow
Related to the black widow, but its bites are usually milder.
- Lives in
- 10 states
- Size
- 0.4–0.6 in
- Open US records
- 1,382
- Group
- Spider
How to identify it
- Tan to dark brown female with an orange hourglass
- Spiky round egg sacs that look like burrs
- Webs under patio chairs, mailboxes and eaves
Size: 0.4–0.6 in (female body length). Habitat: Around houses in warm states; introduced and still spreading.
Also called gray widow.
Where it lives
- Lives here
- Rare records
- Gone
- Not here
When it is out
Look-alikes
- Black Widow vs Brown Widow Black widow: medically significant
State by state
| State | Status | Open records | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Lives here | 908 | 14 |
| Florida | Lives here | 208 | 26 |
| Texas | Lives here | 102 | 21 |
| Georgia | Lives here | 50 | 20 |
| Louisiana | Lives here | 32 | 9 |
| South Carolina | Lives here | 20 | 9 |
| North Carolina | Lives here | 18 | 9 |
| Alabama | Lives here | 17 | 7 |
| Hawaii | Lives here | 5 | 3 |
| Mississippi | Lives here | 5 | 3 |
| Arizona | Rare records | 4 | 2 |
| Tennessee | Rare records | 2 | 1 |
| Virginia | Rare records | 2 | 2 |
| Arkansas | Rare records | 1 | 0 |
| Colorado | Rare records | 1 | 0 |
| Connecticut | Rare records | 1 | 0 |
| Maryland | Rare records | 1 | 0 |
| Minnesota | Rare records | 1 | 1 |
| Nevada | Rare records | 1 | 1 |
| New Mexico | Rare records | 1 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | Rare records | 1 | 0 |
| Pennsylvania | Rare records | 1 | 0 |
States not listed have no open records and are outside the range.
Questions
Where does the brown widow live?
In 10 states: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. Rare records also come from Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland and Minnesota and other states.
Is the brown widow dangerous?
Painful, rarely serious. Related to the black widow, but its bites are usually milder.
How do you identify a brown widow?
Tan to dark brown female with an orange hourglass. Spiky round egg sacs that look like burrs. Webs under patio chairs, mailboxes and eaves.
When is the brown widow most active?
Most open US records fall in July to November.