Is this a Black Widow spider?

Question

So I just looked over into a little corner of my room and saw a nasty little spider and went to squish it, when I noticed that it looked a little like a black widow... I wasn't able to check underneath it's abdomen to see the hourglass, but I'm pretty sure it might be a black widow.

I live in Bennington (Omaha), Nebraska though and I don't think they're very common out here... I did some research and found that they're common in southern california. (I just got back from L.A. on vacation about 5 days ago - what are the chances that I brought it back with me!?) So I was basically just asking for an I.D. confirmation on it. Here are some pictures:

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/9708/dsc02207xs0.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5638/dsc02204ie4.jpg

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/6271/dsc02205dn5.jpg

Answer 1

I checked Google images and I must say, that DOES look like a black widow - a female.

Answer 2

no black widows have a red spot on their back.

like his

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/st...

Answer 3

Don't freak out, and be calm. It's okay; it won't hurt you. Spiders have that horrible reputation, but I have to admit, it doesn't look like a Black Widow, to me.

Answer 4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_black...

There is no red spot, or anything red on that spider, so therefore it is not a black widow.  

Answer 5

That doesn't appear to be a black widow.  However, there are 31 species of widow spider worldwide, and there is a great deal of color variation between and even within the species, from varying shades of dark red or brown to jet black.  So it's impossible to tell for sure from these pictures.  Most black widows will have some red on their body, usually a red hourglass or anvil shape on the underside of the abdomen; sometimes red spots or stripes on the posterior of the abdomen.  That's not always the case; they can be solid black, but the presence of a red hour glass would be proof positive that you have a black widow on your hands.

Bottom line:  If I was a betting man, I'd take 2 to 1 odds, that is not a black widow.  But I could be wrong.

Answer 6

Learn to ID -

http://venomous-spiders.nanders.dk/spide...

Answer 7

I'm no Steve Irwin (may he rest in peace), but black widows are...well, black. That looked more brown. The body structure looks similar though. However the red hourglass is the key.

I would deny that being a black widow.

Answer 8

Lots of spiders have that basic shape. So that could be a widow, or it could be some other 'breed.' The only definitive marking is the red-to-orange hourglass that you were not able to check for.

Even if it was a widow, you were never in much danger. The effects of their bites on healthy people are greatly exaggerated.

Answer 9

I'm not a spider expert, but it sure does look like one. You might of brought it back with you or it could just be chilling in your house.

Either way, I'd kill it because you don't want it making your house it's home.