The Brown Widow
The brown widow is actually very similar to the black widow as far as size. They have a bulbous abdomen, and they are about the same size as a black widow. They are generally slightly smaller than a full grown black widow, but this can vary because of age and so on.
Where the black widow is black and shiny, the brown widow can be many different colors. The usual color is brown, but they can be grey, black, or any color in between. Another huge difference in the two is the hourglass marking on their bellies. The brown widow sports an orange or yellow marking, and the black widow sports a red one.
The brown widow has a bite that is similar in toxicity to the black widow. It is not universally agreed upon as to the severity of a brown widow bite, but they are generally less dangerous than a black widow. Most believe this is due to the amount of venom injected in a brown widow bite, rather than the toxicity of the venom.
The brown widow is also rather timid. They will not even attack when you are near their egg sac, unlike their black widow cousins. The brown widow is not interested in biting humans, and will only do so if they are trapped against your skin or messed with. Speaking of egg sacs, the brown widow has a very distinctive one. Their egg sacs are spiky looking and they are the only spiders to have this unique egg sac. This is a great way to ensure you are dealing with a brown widow.
This spider is found throughout the Southeast and Northeast, and is spreading across the United States. Already you can find them in South Carolina, Texas, and other states that originally did not have them. This is largely due to the habit of brown widows to hitch a ride on vehicles. This inadvertant relocation method has been very effective over the years.
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Thanks