Invasive Arachnid Descends Upon Oregon
A Brown Widow in it’s web. Photo via Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons license.
October 26, 2018
Creepy, crawly, and making its way across the world the infamous Brown Widow surprisingly strikes Oregon. The streets of Portland, Oregon come upon an unfamiliar, even more horrifying venomous spider. Angela Moris discovered and reported the sight of a Brown Widow in the crevasse of barbecue to ODA who then took it in for scientific testing.
The Brown Widow is a spider with the poisonous bite of Black Widow that effects body in high fevers and muscle spasms. Exact anatomy is relative. Differences include color. The Brown Widow wears an orange hourglass and brown abdomen body. 
The ventral (under) side of a brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus with the orange hourglass marking clearly visible. Captured and photographed in Los Angeles, California. The image is a 12 frame focus stack. “Photo via Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons license
It is not known how the Brown Widow got to Portland. It’s not abnormal for creepy crawlies to ride on luggage, plane crates, or automobiles. As Tom Valente, an entomologist (someone that study’s insects) with the Oregon Apartment of Agriculture said, “There is no reason to panic about a new poisonous spider in Oregon yet.”
Still, keep an alert eye out for unfamiliar spiders with 1.5-inch tan too dark brown legs. These could be Brown Widows. This single global-trotter has sent the pest control agency to make a link to anyone who discovers and gets pictures of the venomous creature. Of, course this could turn up false accusations of the Black Widow they cut the accessible link. Thankfully, chances that the arachnid brought friends or babies are few…and, if it did, they will most likely diminish due to their inexperience with our oncoming winter weather.
In conclusion, a dangerous foreign spider hitchhiked its way to new territory. Oregonians should keep guard for the Brown Widow in all areas. Look for its light brown body with an orange hourglass. Yet, this isn’t a reason to push the panic button. According to Tom Valente with winter weather on its way, “If they are outside already, then they will probably be wiped out by the freezing weather because they are subtropical animals.” If you come across a Brown Widow reach out to the ODA’s entomologist, [email protected] or call 503 – 986 – 4636. Oh, and make sure it’s not just his cousin, the Black Widow!
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