Latrodectus mactans
Range
They are found in all of the southern U.S., mostly in the western deserts.Habitat
They are common in woodpiles, on rocky hillsides, in garden sheds and outhouses.Body Traits
They are not large spiders. Their body is about 1.5 inches long. Females are shiny black with a red hourglass- shaped mark on their round belly (abdomen). Males are half the female’s size with longer legs and light streaks on its belly (abdomen).Habits
The black widow is not a bold (aggressive) spider. The female hangs belly up in her web and rarely leaves it, but she will bite if bothered. Only the female has a poisonous bite. The venom is 15 times as toxic as that of a rattlesnake.Diet
They eat flies, moths, crickets, small reptiles and other small animals. Their fangs shoot venom into prey to kill it and digestive juices to make its body soft for easier eating.Reproduction
The female eats the male after mating. Then lays 25 – 900 eggs in an oval, brown, papery egg sac. They hatch after about 3 weeks.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Araneae
- Family: Theridiidae
- Genus: Latrodectus
- Species: L. mactans