The Black Widow Spider
Latrodectus Theridiidae is the scientific name of one of the most dangerous species of spiders which are commonly known as the Black Widow spider. These black colored spiders are generally found in America and Canada and their bites are highly toxic.
WHAT DOES A BLACK WIDOW SPIDER LOOK LIKE
The length of adult black widows ranges between 1/8 to 1.5 inches. Most black widows have a very shiny coal black colored body with red marks on their spherical abdomen; sometimes they have a brown-colored body bearing orange colored markings. The markings are mostly hourglass-shaped. Males are smaller in size as compared to females, almost half in size and usually are brown or grey colored.
Black Widow Spider Behavior:
Black widow spider behavior
Black Widow spiders are not aggressive, but when disturbed or feel threatened they bite their victim right away.
These spiders have been associated with the belief that they eat their male partners after mating. This is the reason they are given the name “Widow”. However, recent studies have shown that not ALL black widows have this habit after mating and the species that do don’t do it all the time.
They are reclusive in nature, therefore they build webs in dark, isolated and hard to reach places like under ledges, in boxes, among firewood, in the dark corners and edges of garage or backyard. They spin structure-less, haphazard webs. Black Widows opt places for webbing which are secured and have least chances to be disturbed.
Signs of Black Widow Spiders:
Messy webs within a foot of the ground hint towards the presence of black widows. And if you come across any spider, look for hourglass-shaped marking on its abdomen to identify it as a black widow.
Black widow bites are extremely painful followed by symptoms like severe muscle pain, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and breathing difficulties. Witnessing these symptoms demand emergency medical treatment, otherwise, they can result in lethal convulsions.