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Spider identification and safety guide
Southern Black Widow in Georgia: How to Identify It and What to Do After a Bite
The southern black widow is one of three widow spiders in Georgia (southern black, northern black and brown), according to University of Georgia Extension. Black widows have a shiny black body with a red hourglass-shaped mark on the belly. They are not particularly aggressive and tend to run for cover, but a suspected bite is a medical matter: get medical help right away.
Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Identification
How to recognize a southern black widow
UGA Extension says Georgia has three widow species: the southern black, the northern black and the brown widow. MedlinePlus describes the black widow as having a shiny black body with a red hourglass-shaped mark on its belly area.
Clues to look for from a safe distance
- Shiny black body.
- A red hourglass-shaped mark on the underside. It is on the belly, so you may not see it unless the spider is turned over. Do not get closer to check.
- An irregular, messy web in a sheltered, undisturbed spot.
- Hiding behavior. UGA says black widows tend to scurry for cover when their hiding spot and web are disturbed.
Widows are not the only dark spiders around a house, and the brown widow is also found in Georgia. If you are not sure what you have, photograph it from a safe distance and have a professional identify it instead of handling it.
Where black widows hide, and how they behave
UGA says widow spiders like unheated sheds and barns, and that they weave irregular, messy webs. Gardeners and anyone working outdoors are the most likely to meet one.
Unheated sheds and barns
UGA lists them as places widow spiders like.
Rock borders
UGA says to wear gloves when working near rock borders.
Piles of wood and debris
UGA says to wear gloves near piles of wood or debris, which give widows places to hide.
UGA also says black widows are not particularly aggressive. Bites happen when a person accidentally mashes the spider, for example when reaching into a hiding spot. UGA says the venom is typically not lethal to humans, although it can make you sick.
If someone is bitten
This is general information, not medical advice. MedlinePlus says black widow bites are very toxic and to seek medical help right away. UGA says anyone, especially a child, bitten by a widow should be taken to the emergency room immediately.
What to do after a suspected bite
- Get medical help right away and contact poison control for guidance. If symptoms are severe, call your local emergency number.
- Clean the area with soap and water.
- Wrap ice in a clean cloth and hold it on the bite.
- If you can do it safely, capture the spider and keep it in rubbing alcohol or in the freezer, as UGA suggests, or take a photo. Do not risk a second bite to do it.
Symptoms MedlinePlus describes
- Pain like a pinprick at first.
- After about 15 minutes to an hour, a dull muscle pain that spreads from the bite area through the body.
- Severe abdominal or chest pain and muscle cramping.
For poison control guidance, see poison.org, which says its online help and phone support are free, expert and confidential.
Reducing the chance of a bite
UGA's advice for gardeners is simple and applies to anyone working outdoors: wear gloves when working near rock borders and piles of wood or debris, keep the yard free of piles of debris, and keep vegetation trimmed.
When a pest professional helps
Call if widows keep returning to a garage, shed or crawl space, if webs show up where children and pets play, or if you are not sure what you have. Pest Control Atlanta can inspect for spiders, identify what is there and treat problem areas. See our Spider Exterminator in Atlanta page for more.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Are black widows aggressive?
UGA says black widows are not particularly aggressive and typically scurry for cover when their hiding spot and web are disturbed. Bites usually happen when someone accidentally mashes the spider.
Can a black widow bite kill you?
UGA says the venom is typically not lethal to humans, although it can make you sick. MedlinePlus still calls black widow bites very toxic and says to seek medical help right away, so treat any suspected bite as a reason to get care.
How many kinds of widow spiders live in Georgia?
UGA says three: the southern black widow, the northern black widow and the brown widow.
Where do black widows build webs?
UGA says widow spiders like unheated sheds and barns, rock borders and piles of wood or debris, and that they weave irregular, messy webs.
What should I do after a suspected black widow bite?
Get medical help right away and contact poison control. Clean the area with soap and water and hold a cloth-wrapped ice pack on the bite. UGA says anyone, especially a child, bitten by a widow should go to the emergency room immediately.
How do I lower the chance of being bitten?
UGA recommends wearing gloves when working near rock borders and piles of wood or debris, and keeping the yard free of debris piles with vegetation trimmed.
Where this information comes from
Sources
Facts about identification, biology and safety come from the sources below, retrieved on October 7, 2026. Publication or review dates are given where the source shows one.
- Widow spiders: Why gardeners wear work gloves, UGA CAES Field Report — by Stephanie Schupska, February 21, 2008 (older article; used for species, habitat, behavior and prevention)
- Black widow spider bite, MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — review date July 1, 2025
- webPOISONCONTROL, National Capital Poison Center — checked October 7, 2026
More identification guides
Browse the full Atlanta Pest Library, or read another identification guide:
Widows keep turning up around your home?
Call Pest Control Atlanta to talk through what you are finding. If someone has been bitten, get medical help first.
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