Red Widow

Natural Habitat

Sand pine scrub habitats in Florida, often building messy webs in palmetto and scrub oak bushes.

Diet & Feeding

Primarily preys on insects caught in its web, such as beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers.

Behavior Patterns

Solitary, nocturnal spiders that construct irregular, tangled webs. Females are known to be reclusive and will often stay in their web. Male red widows will wander in search of mates. Females lay eggs in silken sacs.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risk: Like other widow spiders, the Red Widow has a potent neurotoxic venom, though bites are rare and typically less severe than that of the much more widely known Black Widow. Symptoms can include muscle pain, cramps, nausea, and sweating. Benefits: Plays a role in controlling insect populations within its ecosystem.

Identified on: 9/20/2025