Professional exterminator in protective workwear spraying pesticide in apartment kitchen.

You might be willing to allow a spider or two their freedom in your house, hoping they find their own way out, but you should never do so with a black widow. If you see one, call pest control so they can deal with possible infestations, pinpoint access points, and treat your home, according to Foster and Thorne.

Fortunately, this spider is easy to identify. “It’s hard to get the black widow spider confused. You will distinguish it from other spiders by the deep shiny black color of its body. The female is famous for the signature red hourglass marking on her abdomen, while the male can have white stripes on the abdomen, depending on the species,” Foster says, pointing out that it’s usually only the more recognizable female black widows that will bite.

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