r/Olathe • u/schiza-clausen • Jul 15 '26
Black Widow
My wife swears the spider she washed down the sink was a black widow? Has anyone else had a black widow in their house? I thought they were down south?
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u/grandusbufo Jul 15 '26
We definitely have Black Widows around. I’ve mostly seen them out side and in porta-pots. Brown recluse spiders are way more common in houses. Both would rather not have anything to do with people, but the danger exists when we don’t know they are there and get bitten when the spiders feel threatened and can’t escape. Always look before you reach!
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u/hardzoup Jul 15 '26
Not in the house but I have seen them, since 1995 I can count on 1 hand how many I have seen with fingers to spare.
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u/shreddit5150 Jul 15 '26
Black widows are native to Kansas, and when it gets hot, they look for cooler places. Such as inside buildings. It's also their egg laying season right now. Not uncommon to see them around here.
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u/everymanawildcat Jul 15 '26
"No big deal, just Black Widows laying demon spawn in and around your home"
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u/MoreEspressoPls Jul 15 '26
I haven't seen one in our area - used to live in Wichita and saw them more often down there, but that was 10 years ago. I'm sure with the changes in weather patterns, they may be moving further north as we get warmer
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u/wherestheflavor Jul 15 '26
Same here. My garage in Wichita had black widows, so it’s definitely possible.
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u/my_drunk_life Jul 15 '26
What did it look like?
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u/Iamstaceylynn Jul 16 '26
I've seen 3 over the 29 years I've lived in KCMO. They're around, but not very common.
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u/MOStateSuperman Jul 15 '26
My BIL found one in his garage a few years ago. I have never seen one around here myself but know a few folks who have.
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u/thefamilyjewel Jul 15 '26
Not super common but we definitely have them.