What to Do if You Find a Spider in Your Grapes

In 2023, a woman posted a video to TikTok that showed a black widow in her manager’s plastic container of green grapes. In the video, the black widow is still very much alive and crawling around. The video served as a public service announcement to always carefully inspect produce to ensure there are no unwanted visitors, such as the black widow the manager found in her grapes. As unappetizing and even scary as this scenario is, it should be pointed out that it is rare for black widows to be found in bunches of fruit. That being said, always inspect fruit before purchasing and wash it thoroughly before eating to remove any insects or spiders.

How Black Widows Wind Up On Grapes

Despite the horror stories of black widows winding up in bunches of grapes, whether in plastic bags or clamshell containers, the spiders do not intend to enter people’s homes. Instead, they are setting up their webs in vineyards simply because they are a good place to hunt. As arachnologist Catherine Scott told Live Science in 2015, vineyards in California, Canada, and other parts of North America make great homes for black widows. Not only are there a tremendous number of insects to eat, but the arid and generally cooler temperatures where grapes grow also make for a happy environment for black widows to live in.

“The reason they’re in the vineyards is to eat insects and other arthropods,” Scott explains. “It’s not that they want to hang out on your grapes or in your home.”

Reports of black widows appearing in grapes became more common after grape growers began reducing pesticide use in the 1990s, which allowed more insects and spiders to survive in vineyards. When cutting back on the use of pesticides, according to Melissa Hanson of the California Table Grape Commission, grape growers depend on insects and spiders to keep the pests that damage grapes and their vines under control.

“You live with a higher insect population with the hope that the good bugs will take care of the bad bugs,” Hansen says. “We want spiders in our vineyards and our orchards to eat insects.”

While this may not comfort those who have found black widows in their produce, consumers should understand that using fewer pesticides leads to more pests. That means not only will grapes potentially have spiders and other insects crawling on them, but other produce will as well.

Black Widows Are Not the Only Arachnids to Wind Up in Produce

Black widows are not alone in their ability to hide in produce. In some instances, critters hide to find prey, the same reason spiders do. In other instances, pests hide in fruit because of its sugar content and easy accessibility. Regardless of why insects and spiders are present, no one shopping for fruits or vegetables wants to find them. Knowing which produce is most likely to have bugs will help people make the best choices when purchasing it in the store.

The produce most likely to have insects and/or spiders includes:

Almost all produce comes into contact with insects and spiders at some point. This is why it is important to do your best to prevent bugs from coming home with your produce, and to wash produce thoroughly before eating, so these critters do not accidentally become part of your meal.

How To Avoid Being Surprised By Spiders In Bunches Of Grapes

While not all the spiders found in grapes are dangerous to people, any spider can cause fright. Therefore, stopping spiders from being taken out of the grocery store is the best way to ensure the critters do not cause harm and can even be released.

The best ways to prevent spiders from becoming a surprise guest when eating grapes include:

• Carefully inspecting grapes in a clamshell container by turning the container upside down or even opening it to inspect the grapes
• Thoroughly inspecting loose grapes before placing them in a plastic bag
• Wash grapes before eating them
• Refrigerate grapes before eating to slow down any pests that may not have been found when inspecting grapes at the store
• Contact the store to inform them that a spider has been located in the grapes, as there may be more

If a spider makes its way into your home, the best thing to do is to capture it for identification, but only if you can do so safely. Unfortunately, while videos and pictures may help experts identify the spider, having a specimen—either alive, slowed by refrigeration, or dead from freezing—is the best way to determine if the spider was harmful.

Always Seek Treatment If Bitten By A Black Widow

In most instances, spiders found in grapes are not harmful. However, this fact is not reassuring for those who have found black widow spiders in their produce. It may be helpful to know that if bitten by a black widow, the bite is generally not life-threatening. By washing the wound and seeking medical treatment, doctors can determine whether an antivenom is necessary. Sometimes, black widows do not inject venom and instead deliver a dry bite.

However, it is always best to err on the side of caution. Do not delay seeking treatment, so medical professionals can determine the best course of care if you are bitten by a spider while eating grapes.
If the unfortunate circumstance of being bitten by a spider occurs while trying to enjoy some juicy grapes.