Biggest Black Widow I've Ever Seen!!

Dyre Straits · Apr 17, 2007, 02:31 AM

This is no joke! Because the shower diverter broke on our tub/shower, I've had to spend some time doing plumber's work the past couple of days. Since the house we're in is over 40 years old, finding a replacement tub spout was out of the question. So, when I got home late last night, I needed to tear out a portion of the tiled wall so that I'd be able to replace the pipes, the valve, and showerhead.

Once I got far enough into it, I needed to shut off the water to the house. The easiest way to do that is to use a water wrench and turn off the main valve at the street meter.

So, in the dark last night I went out and pulled off and turned over the lid to the meter.

This morning, on her way out, and not knowing what that overturned lid was, my daughter-in-law left a note warning my son and me about a HUGE Black Widow spider in an overturned lid up by the mailbox.

So, the both of us went out there and....YIKES!!! I get the creeps when I think of how close my bare fingers came to his monster! It's the biggest black widow I've ever seen. AND, she had TWO egg sacs!!

Take a look at this thing....

After getting these photos, this creature was sent to the hereafter wherever Black Widows belong and ALL of her young'uns with her!!

So, just a warning to those who live in areas where Black Widows and other such critters crawl: DO NOT overturn covers, lids, and other things in the dark without hand protection and a flashlight. It could save you a lot pain if you're not as lucky as I was!!

***temeteus82*** · Apr 17, 2007, 02:39 AM

I'm glad that we don't have any of those in here...

Just Learnin' · Apr 17, 2007, 02:44 AM

My wife would be hospitalized just from the realization she had come "that" close if it were her that had your experience!!!

Dyre Straits · Apr 17, 2007, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Learnin'

My wife would be hospitalized just from the realization she had come "that" close if it were her that had your experience!!!

I actually was hospitalized overnight a few years ago from what the doctors could only determine was a spider bite. I had been doing some work and knelt down in the grass and felt a very sharp pain in my knee. It didn't actually start really bothering me until later that evening after dinner while watching TV. Suddenly, I got a fever, and excruciating nausea and my knee swelled up to about twice its size.

I was rushed to the ER and kept overnight for observation while they treated me with whatever it was they thought I needed.

I was off my feet for several days after that while my leg healed.

I have a very strong hunch that the hospital would have only been a brief trip on the way to the morgue if this B.W. had her way with things.

It's still very scary just how close I came last night.

Mousey · Apr 17, 2007, 06:26 AM

I think your'e really lucky you didn't anger the spider or something when you tipped the lid over that night, what if it came out and took a chunk out of your hand or something? you probably wouldn't notice like last time, you'd be on the floor convulsing and writhing in agony i'd reckon...
Creepy....
you came damn close dude, you must have a guardin angel or something that told the spidder to stay put ;p

**dj_stick** · Apr 17, 2007, 06:35 AM

damn that's a big redback (the aussie name for them)

i've found a few of those around here, but nothing that big

Chaos · Apr 17, 2007, 06:47 AM

thats nasty dude, be carefull, cant help but thinking of Vincent Price from the Alice Cooper song

GutterPunk · Apr 17, 2007, 07:12 AM

thats scary crap!

EcPercy · Apr 17, 2007, 07:22 AM

I have only seen one of these in person my whole life and it wasn't nearly that large. I hope you smashed/burned it and the egg sac's.

calidan · Apr 17, 2007, 08:45 AM

Black Widows are all over Missouri. I've seen a couple out at my parents place and I don't think they were that big.

Guyver2K5 · Apr 17, 2007, 10:07 AM

If i saw that IRL, i would turn around and run AND NEVER STOP! ahaaaaaaa

i hate SPIDERS!!

Falstaff · Apr 17, 2007, 11:23 AM

I loooooooooove spiders..

OmegaRED · Apr 17, 2007, 11:33 AM

I'd be pretty freaked out if there were deadly spiders where I lived. If I had black widows in my backyard it would be like living next to a serial killer.

SFOSOK · Apr 17, 2007, 01:23 PM

They aren't that big of a deal. Even one of that size is usually only a threat to small children.

We have about 10 or so in my garage and they really don't care bout people, unless if you piss them off.

Retarp · Apr 17, 2007, 03:03 PM

NICE

Yeah, you probably would have had some major problems if you had been bit. Where I live I don't have to worry about spiders much. We just have mostly harmless wolf spiders, which decided to sleep with my & the lady a few weeks back

I got a couple of nice big welts from that.

We do have Brown Recluses around here, but they are rare. If you don't seek medical attention right away, the poison from one of those can eat your flesh away