The curious fact is that lots of brown recluse spider bites have been reported in parts of America where this species does not live. There are other spider varieties to blame for the matter, but none of them causes necrosis, not even the Hobo spider, that is often held responsible. The brown recluse spider bites are the only ones to cause necrosis but in very rare situations and when the immunity of the victim is very low. It is this specificity that is actually responsible for the name of the species as such, but there are plenty of other features that make the black widow spider stand out. The most common color of this spider is dark brown or black with a red hourglass pattern on the body; the legs are hairy and the jaws seem very strong. As it seldom happens for a person to suffer from a brown recluse spider bite, many doctors have difficulties in diagnosing certain symptoms that accompany it, very often such a bite can be even taken for a staphylococcus skin infection that is very similar in manifestation and symptoms. The result of such a bite is known as loxoscelism, and it may appear in cutaneous and system manifestations. The number of reported bites is the highest during the mating season when the funnel web spider males enter in houses and garages through small gaps in the doors and window sills. Mating is dangerous for the funnel web spider as the females are very aggressive, this is why the male funnel web spiders have to hold them with the spurs on the second legs. The consequences of the exposure to the venom of hobo spiders are less serious than the bites of the brown recluse spider for instance. However, people who have been bitten may expect to experience headaches and a general feeling of malaise. Sometimes, even vision problems have been reported, but under such circumstances you should contact the doctor right away and receive professional help. There are red, orange, yellow, black and white patterns that the brown widow spider may carry on the abdomen, all of these features misleading any untrained eye. The favorite habitat of the brown widow spider includes well protected locations in homes and other man-made structures. You may even find brown widow nests in buckets, mail boxes, entry corners, closets, garages and even in vegetation like shrubs and tree branches.