Black Widow Spider

The black widow spider is another creature that we in Lea County are all familiar with.  A shiny black spider with a red hourglass on its stomach.  Not technically an insect, the black widow is an arachnid.  Black widows are nonaggressive animals but they will bite in self-defense.  In humans, bites produce muscle aches, nausea, and a paralysis of the diaphragm that can make breathing difficult; however, contrary to popular belief, most people who are bitten suffer no serious damage—let alone death.  Still, best to avoid them.

Michelle Tomkins Marsh was doing laundry and emptying the drier.  Instead of just throwing her husband’s underpants in the drawer like usual she decided to fold them.  Low and behold a black widow spider covered in fluff drowsily crawled from Greg’s underpants.  She has no idea how it got there but Greg was thrilled that he didn’t discover it another way!

If you have questions about black widows please visit the UNM New Mexico Poison and Drug information Center.  http://nmpoisoncenter.unm.edu/education/pub-ed/pp_tip_pages/venom_things.html