The Latrodectus genus, a part of the cobweb spider family, has species that are combinedly called true widows. The World Spider Catalog recognizes 31 species in this genus as per the July 2017 records. They occur in every continent apart from Antarctica. The black widow varieties like the northern black widow (Latrodectus various), western black widow (Latrodectus Hesperus), and southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) are found throughout the U.S. alongside regions of southern Canada.
| Latrodectus antheratus | Latrodectus apicalis | Red Widow (Latrodectus bishopi) |
| Latrodectus cinctus | Latrodectus corallinus | Latrodectus curacaviensis |
| Latrodectus dahli | Latrodectus diaguita | Latrodectus elegans |
| Latrodectus erythromelas | Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus) | Latrodectus hasselti |
| Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus) | Latrodectus hystrix | Latrodectus indistinctus |
| Latrodectus karrooensis | Latrodectus katipo | Latrodectus lilianae |
| Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans) | Latrodectus menavodi | Latrodectus mirabilis |
| Latrodectus obscurior | White Widow (Latrodectus pallidus) | Latrodectus quartus |
| Latrodectus renivulvatus | Latrodectus revivensis | Latrodectus rhodesiensis |
| Latrodectus thoracicus | Latrodectus tredecimguttatus | Latrodectus variegatus |
| Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus) | Latrodectus corallines |
Size: They vary in size; for instance, the black widow spiders are 3mm to 10 mm (0.12 inches to 0.39 inches) long. The red widow, on the other hand, is has a length of approximately 12.7 mm (0.5 inches).
Color: The females have a shiny black or dark brown body with an orange or red pattern on the underside (ventral part) of their abdomen. Some, however, possess a pale brown coloration, while few may not possess any bright markings. The males display red and white or red spots or stripes on the upper (dorsal) abdominal area.
Other Characteristic Features: The females often show an hourglass pattern on their abdomen.
The eggs remain wrapped in a pear-shaped or spherical or spherical silken sac.
The juveniles mostly resemble the males in terms of their color patterns.
They have an irregular, messy, sticky, tangled web and remain hanging in an upside-down posture in a bid to capture their prey. Their eyesight is poor, and they mostly rely on vibrations that they would sense through their webs.
The females have large venom glands, and their bite could cause harm to humans, but no fatalities have been recorded to date. Of all the species belonging to this genus, the black widow is the most dangerous since their venom has a substance named latrotoxin, which can cause severe symptoms.
| Lifespan | Approximately 1 to 3 years |
| Distribution | Parts of Asia, North America, South America, Australia, and Africa |
| Habitat | Dark, desolate places like rock and woodpiles, fallen branches, as well as outhouses, basements, garages, and sheds. |
| Predators | Wasps, flies, and birds |
| Diet | Small insects |
Image Credits: tripsavvy.com
The Latrodectus genus, a part of the cobweb spider family, has species that are combinedly called true widows. The World Spider Catalog recognizes 31 species in this genus as per the July 2017 records. They occur in every continent apart from Antarctica. The black widow varieties like the northern black widow (Latrodectus various), western black widow (Latrodectus Hesperus), and southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) are found throughout the U.S. alongside regions of southern Canada.
| Latrodectus antheratus | Latrodectus apicalis | Red Widow (Latrodectus bishopi) |
| Latrodectus cinctus | Latrodectus corallinus | Latrodectus curacaviensis |
| Latrodectus dahli | Latrodectus diaguita | Latrodectus elegans |
| Latrodectus erythromelas | Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus) | Latrodectus hasselti |
| Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus) | Latrodectus hystrix | Latrodectus indistinctus |
| Latrodectus karrooensis | Latrodectus katipo | Latrodectus lilianae |
| Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans) | Latrodectus menavodi | Latrodectus mirabilis |
| Latrodectus obscurior | White Widow (Latrodectus pallidus) | Latrodectus quartus |
| Latrodectus renivulvatus | Latrodectus revivensis | Latrodectus rhodesiensis |
| Latrodectus thoracicus | Latrodectus tredecimguttatus | Latrodectus variegatus |
| Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus) | Latrodectus corallines |
Size: They vary in size; for instance, the black widow spiders are 3mm to 10 mm (0.12 inches to 0.39 inches) long. The red widow, on the other hand, is has a length of approximately 12.7 mm (0.5 inches).
Color: The females have a shiny black or dark brown body with an orange or red pattern on the underside (ventral part) of their abdomen. Some, however, possess a pale brown coloration, while few may not possess any bright markings. The males display red and white or red spots or stripes on the upper (dorsal) abdominal area.
Other Characteristic Features: The females often show an hourglass pattern on their abdomen.
The eggs remain wrapped in a pear-shaped or spherical or spherical silken sac.
The juveniles mostly resemble the males in terms of their color patterns.
They have an irregular, messy, sticky, tangled web and remain hanging in an upside-down posture in a bid to capture their prey. Their eyesight is poor, and they mostly rely on vibrations that they would sense through their webs.
The females have large venom glands, and their bite could cause harm to humans, but no fatalities have been recorded to date. Of all the species belonging to this genus, the black widow is the most dangerous since their venom has a substance named latrotoxin, which can cause severe symptoms.
| Lifespan | Approximately 1 to 3 years |
| Distribution | Parts of Asia, North America, South America, Australia, and Africa |
| Habitat | Dark, desolate places like rock and woodpiles, fallen branches, as well as outhouses, basements, garages, and sheds. |
| Predators | Wasps, flies, and birds |
| Diet | Small insects |
Image Credits: tripsavvy.com
