Black widows are notorious spiders identified by the colored, hourglass-shaped mark on their abdomens. Several species answer to the name, and they are found in temperate regions around the world. This spider's bite is much feared because its venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake's. In humans, bites produce muscle aches, nausea, and a paralysis of the diaphragm that can make breathing difficult; however, contrary to popular belief, most people who are bitten suffer no serious damage—let alone death. But bites can be fatal—usually to small children, the elderly, or the infirm. Fortunately, fatalities are fairly rare; the spiders are nonaggressive and bite only in self-defense, such as when someone accidentally sits on them.
Description of Habitat
Black widows are found in temperate regions throughout the world, including the United States, Southern Europe and Asia, Australia, Africa, and much of South America. They are considered the most venomous spider in North America. In the United States, they exist primarily in the South and West. They are usually found in outdoor structures like fences, rock piles, sheds and outdoor furniture. In cold weather they may enter buildings Yellow = Black widow range
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Common Name
Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus) is a genus of spider, in the family Theridiidae, which contains 32 recognized species. The black widow spider gets its name from the popular belief that the females eat the males after mating.The prevalence of sexual cannibalism, a behavior in which the female eats the male after mating, in some species of Latrodectus has inspired the common name "widow spiders". |
External
Description Male and female black widows look different. The female has a shiny black body with a globular abdomen. It has a blood-red (or occasionally orange-yellow) hourglass marking. She is about 1.5 inches long. The male is about half the size of the female. He is lighter in color with red or pink spots on his back. A black widow also has eight eyes, but although they have that many eyes, their vision is actually very poor. They sense movement around them rather that actually seeing very well. Size realitive to a paperclip
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Locomotion
Black widow spider moves by using its eight legs |