The brown widow is highly variable in color. It may be almost white to almost black. Typically, it is a light to medium brown, with an orange hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen. The leg segments are banded, with one half of each segment lighter in color than the other half. The back often has a row of white spots (rarely orange or light blue), and there are a few white stripes on each side. Dark individuals lack these markings and are difficult to distinguish from black widows. If an eggsac is present, this is the best identifying characteristic. Brown widow eggsacs are tan, spherical, and have many small tufts of silk sticking out from them.