Black Widow Spiders Sent in Shipment to England

FAIRFAX, Va. (January 14, 2013) – A tire shipment mailed to a business in England came with more than just tires. Deadly black widow spiders were found inside the containers sent from Arizona, according to FOX News.

Black widows are rarely seen in the United Kingdom, but they are found throughout the United States, most often in the South and West. Like the brown recluse spider, this species has a distinct pattern allowing for easy identification – a black body with red “hourglass” coloration on the underside of its abdomen.  

If a black widow spider is found, it’s important to contact a pest professional immediately. The black widow venom contains a neurotoxin, which causes immediate pain at the bite site and then spreads to other areas of the body such as the chest and the abdomen.