Many stories are popping up recently about people finding black widow spiders in grapes!  Most were found in popular stores like Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger, Sam`s Club, and Aldi. Reports have occurred all across the U.S, including Michigan, Oklahoma, Missouri, Vermont, Pennsylvania, as well as in Canada and England.

A representative from the British Supermarket, Asda, where at least one spider reached the kitchen tables, stated”:  All our grapes are fumigated and cold stored, but very occasionally a spider hangs around. We sincerely apologize for any distress caused.”

Organic grapes are unlikely to include the aforementioned fumigants, so it is important to known what we look for in the off chance these spiders could be in your grapes.

Why the Spiders Choose Grapes

Black widow spiders like to live in vineyards so they can be found in all places where grapes grow, which means the likelihood of finding a black widow is the same, regardless of which country the grapes were imported from.

Arachnologist Catherine Scott told CBS News: “The reason they’re in the vineyards is to eat insects and other arthropods. It’s not that they want to hang out on your grapes or in your home.”

It has also been reported that some farmers may be using black widow spiders instead of chemicals with the purpose of reducing invasions of other insects.

What Can You Do
A black widow`s venom is actually 15 times stronger than rattlesnake`s venom, but it is unlikely the spider will attack you, because it usually isn’t aggressive towards humans. It will only bite if it feel threatened.

The most important thing is to wash the fruit thoroughly before consuming it. In case there is a spider or any other insect hidden in the bag, washing the fruit should remove it before it gets the chance to come in contact with your skin.  You should also thoroughly look over grapes and other types of fruit before eating them.

If you come a cross a black widow and the spider does bite, its venom is not meant to kill you, as its only goal is killing insects, such as insects for food. 

Scott also told CBS: “Venom is expensive to produce. So they’d rather save it for their next meal rather than wasting it on a human. ”

If You Were Bitten

If you suspect you were bitten, wait for about 15 minutes in order to see if you were injected with venom. Only female spiders are toxic to humans, according to the Scientific American. In case the bite starts to hurt, seek medical attention right away. The National Poison Control Center is available 24/7 for free advice.

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If you are unable to get a medical attention or you opt for a home remedy, there are some steps to follow which many people have found helpful and very effective.

The first step is staying calm in order to prevent increase in your blood flow.
If the bite is located on the arm or leg, don’t elevate them so that you slow down the venom from spreading. You don’t want to elevate the limb afterwards if you start to notice swelling.
In order to relieve some pain and swelling, wrap a cold pack on the affected area and let it stay for 10 minutes. Remove after 10 minutes and repeat the procedure.
Use bentonite clay, plantain leaf, or activated charcoal to draw the toxins out.
This step consists of applying a remedy to reduce the pain. You can use iodine, hydrogen peroxide, or turmeric and olive oil.
Apply an anti-infection treatment, such as tea tree, lavender essential oil, onion, or garlic.
The final step is taking an immune support in order to give your self-healing mechanism a boost. The options are vitamin C and Echinacea, or natural versions such as rose hips or camu camu.