Mediterranean Black Widow

Where it lives

Rubble walls, stone piles, dry garigue and field margins, under stones, in disused pipes and irrigation boxes. Builds an untidy tangled web close to the ground.

Signs

• A glossy black spider with red or orange dots on the abdomen
• Untidy irregular webs low down in stonework and among rocks
• Round pale-brown silk egg sacs in the web
• Most often found while clearing rubble, walls or field terraces

Risks

• Bite causes latrodectism: intense pain, cramps, sweating and nausea
• Requires prompt medical attention, though fatalities are effectively unknown
• Risk to farm and construction workers handling stone and rubble
• Bites in bedding are extremely rare but occur where clothing is left outdoors

Prevention

• Wear gloves when moving stones, rubble and stored materials
• Shake out clothing, boots and gloves left outdoors overnight
• Keep stone and timber piles away from the house and off the ground
• Clear rubbish and debris from field boundaries
• Seal gaps into garages and outbuildings

Treatment

We survey harbourage areas, physically remove webs and egg sacs, and apply a targeted residual treatment to wall voids, rubble and perimeter harbourage rather than broadcasting insecticide across the garden. Advice on tidying and storage usually does more than chemistry, and we set out a practical plan for the site.