Many people don't know that there are actually 32 different species of "widow" spiders, aptly named because the female spider often eats the male after mating – thus making her a “widow”! Most people are familiar with the most famous of the “widow” spiders, the black widow, which is easily recognized by the unique red hourglass shape on its abdomen and generally feared due to its highly venomous bite. In Louisiana we have been living with smaller populations of black widow (or southern widow) spiders for years, but now, according to recent reports, the brown widow spider is invading parts of southern Louisiana. A new pest to Read More »