Sherry, brown widow spiders can have a wide assortment of markings on the top of their abdomens. The tell-tale sign is the hour glass mark on the underside (just like a black widow). It won't be bright red like that of the black widow, but an orange, rust, or even brown color. But it will be there.

Do you know what the messy web and eggs of the black widow look like? The brown widow web looks the same, but the eggs are different.