However, if you get a bite from a black widow, here’s what to expect: Redness, pain and swelling: You might have pain and swelling around the bite, which can spread into your abdomen, back or chest.

The black widow spider is one of a handful of species of poisonous spiders in North America. It is part of the arachnid family. Its body is about 1.25 centimetres long (smaller than a dime), and ...

Meanwhile, the bite of the false black widow, Steatoda grossa, is no worse than a wasp sting. Unless the bite prompts an allergic reaction, it’s of no interest to medicine.