Ordinarily, the body mass of a healthy adult is sufficient to dilute the venom to less than a fatal concentration.
In most species, only the female spider is capable of effectively delivering the venom to humans as the males have much smaller chelicerae.
[4] Individuals who are allergic to the venom may also require epinephrine (adrenaline) or diphenhydramine to treat subsequent anaphylaxis.
The brown button spiders are lighter in color than the black button spiders and have a red hourglass marking under the abdomen (not above) with exception of the L. umbukwane which has both red markings above and below the opisthosoma (abdomen); there are three brown button species: L. geometricus is found in many parts of the world,(including in the United States) and it is known as the brown widow spider.
Both brown button species have the famed hourglass markings of the black widow from other countries on their abdomens, but are generally lighter in colour.