Also depends on whether you have young children who can't be counted on to
avoid the spider's home.

Young children will get a higher dose of venom from a bite (per pound of
body weight, since they are small). So, they tend to fare worse with bites.
If you have kids or grandkids about, consider killing the spiders.

Now, before I get flamed for indiscriminately killing innocent creatures, I
have lots of spiders in my yard, garden, and sometimes house. Unless I
believe they are of a dangerous variety, I leave them alone. They are good
pest control.

Well, ones inside the house tend to get relocated outside. (I have a baby
who's crawling, and he will eat anything he can get in his mouth. I'm not
inclined to take chances with him getting bitten or *eating* spiders.)

Laura


"Bert Byfield" wrote in message
7...
Found a Black Widow & her kids in the corner of my shed. Should I get
rid of them, or are they good pest control. A friend of mine never
kills spiders as they nab quite a lot of bugs, but I am a little wary
of the venomous variety, though I dinna think the widow is too bad.

From: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2061A.html

**** begin quote ************

The severity of an individual's reaction to the black widow spider bite
depends on the area of the body bitten, amount of venom injected, and
their sensitivity to the venom. The venom travels in the bloodstream
throughout the body and acts on the nervous system, causing varying
degrees of pain. Some people report very intense pain. There typically is
no necrosis (sloughing) of tissues and no conspicuous swelling.

The bite of a black widow spider initially may go unnoticed, but some
people report a short stabbing pain. At first, there may be slight local
swelling and two faint red spots, which are puncture points from the
fangs. Pain soon begins and usually progresses from the bite site to
finally localize in the abdomen and back. Severe cramping or rigidity may
occur in the abdominal muscles. Other symptoms may include nausea,
profuse perspiration, tremors, labored breathing, restlessness, increased
blood pressure, and fever. Symptoms often diminish after a day or so and
cease after several days. Serious long-term complications or death are
very rare.

First Aid

If bitten, remain calm, and immediately seek medical attention (contact
your physician, hospital and/or poison control center). Apply an ice pack
directly to the bite area to relieve swelling and pain. Collect the
spider (even a mangled specimen has diagnostic value), if possible, for
positive identification by a spider expert. A plastic bag, small jar, or
pill vial is useful and no preservative is necessary, but rubbing alcohol
helps to preserve the spider.

A hospital stay may be recommended, particularly for those with a heart
condition or with health problems. A physician may administer a specific
antivenin to counteract the venom or calcium gluconate to relieve pain.
Control

Control efforts should target black widow spider webs because that is
where the spider spends most of its time. Control is best achieved by
following an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy, which involves
using multiple approaches such as preventive measures, exclusion,
sanitation, and chemical treatment when necessary. IPM requires a
thorough inspection of the building to locate the pest. An inspection
preferably should be done at night because the black widow spider is
nocturnal.

**** end quote ************

I'd bomb them.