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The Black Widow spider (Latrodectus spp.) is a spider notorious for its neurotoxic venom (a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells). The Black Widow Spider is a large widow spider found throughout the world and commonly associated with urban habitats or agricultural areas.
Description. The eye arrangement of spiders in the genus Latrodectus. Female widow spiders are typically dark brown or a shiny black in colour when they are full grown, usually exhibiting a red or orange hourglass on the ventral surface (underside) of the abdomen; some may have a pair of red spots or have no marking at all.
- Their venom is 15 times more potent than a rattlesnake’s. Bites can induce nausea, paralysis of the diaphragm, and muscle aches and pains. Fortunately, it is quite rare to die from a black widow bite.
- They wait patiently for their prey. Black widow spiders create a specific type of web called “tangle webs”. Prey will find their way into the webs and become entangled in its threads.
- Horses help produce antivenom to black widow bites. Each year, there are approximately 2,500 people who seek medical attention for black widow spider bites.
- Males are sometimes eaten after mating. For male widow spiders, mating can be extremely dangerous. Female widow spiders are larger and stronger than males, and following copulation, females will occasionally catch and consume males for energy.
Dec 13, 2022 · Usually, the black widow spider enswathes prey caught in its snare, bites it, and later drags it to its hub, or retreat, to be eaten. Latrodectus mactans inflicts a small wound on its prey, uses its cheliceral teeth to mash it up, pours digestive enzymes on the prey; and sucks up the resulting food.
- Black Widow Spiders Have More Than 30 Species. As mentioned earlier, there are about 32 known species of black widow spiders, and quite interestingly, they aren’t always black.
- Most Black Widow Spider Bites Are Inflicted By Females. Virtually everyone knows that black widow spiders are inherently venomous. However, most of the medically concerning black widow bites throughout history are attributed to adult female black widow spiders.
- The Venom Of Black Widow Spiders Is Not Fatal To Humans. Adult female black widow spiders have a very toxic but non-fatal venom. They are known for releasing neurotoxins that are powerful enough to cause excruciating pain, muscle cramps, hypertension, and weakness, but not death.
- Female Black Widow Spiders Sometimes Eat Their Mates. We mentioned earlier that adult female black widows have more ferocious bites and venom than their male counterparts.
Aug 31, 2008 · There is a series of three images of a very black male spider with red marking on the upper surface as well as a distinct hourglass underneath that are posted to BugGuide. Lee from Cass County, Texas, questioned the hourglass specifically. The identification on that spider is the Southern Black Widow, Latrodectus mactans.
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