Black Widow Spider

Black Widow Spider Facts

Black widow spider fact – classification

The name Black widow spider is used for a wide range of different spider species in the genus Latrodectus. On the North American continent, the name is used mainly for the Northern black widow spider (Latrodectus variolus), the Southern black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) and the Western black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus). It can however be used as a common name for other spiders as well, such as the rare Red Widow Spider (Latrodectus bishopi) that can only be found in a few places in Florida.

Until the 1970s, the North American black widow spiders were considered one single species; Latrodectus mactans. If you read older literature about Black widow spider facts, you should therefore be aware that the name is used for what we today consider to be several different species of Black widow spider.

Black widow spider facts – North American range

The Northern black widow spider lives in the north-eastern parts of the United States and the south-eastern parts of Canada. In some regions, both Northern and Southern black widow spiders can be found since their ranges overlap.

The Southern black widow spider is found in the south-eastern parts of the United States, in an area that stretches from New York in the north to Florida in the south. The range extends west into Texas and Oklahoma. A few specimens have been found even further west.

The Western black widow spider inhabits the western half of the United States, and is also found in most parts of Mexico and in the south-western parts of Canada.

Black widow spider facts – Feeding

One of the most well known Black widow spider facts is that is this spider is capable of delivering a toxic bite. The Black widow spider does not only use its venom for protection, it will also use it to kill prey. Its diet is made up chiefly by insects, but given the chance the Black widow spider will also feed on other small animals as well, such as centipedes, millipedes and woodlice. The Black widow spider is also known to prey on arachnids.

Another just as well known Black widow fact is that these spiders create webs. They are renowned for sometimes choosing outhouses for their webs, even though their viciousness has been largely exaggerated in most of these popular stories. Black widow spider facts and black widow spider fiction is often mixed up in popular culture.

When a suitable prey has become entangled by the spider web, the Black widow will emerge from its retreat and start wrapping the animal. When the prey has been properly wrapped up, the Black widow spider will puncture it and deliver a dose of toxin. The Black widow spider toxin will usually need around ten minutes to take effect, and in the mean time the wrapped up prey will be held tightly by the Black widow. When the toxin has caused the prey to seize moving, the Black widow spider will release new compounds into the prey – and this time it is not toxin but digestive enzymes. At this stage, the Black widow spider will typically find it best to retreat in to its hiding place, carrying its food along.

adult pandablack widow spider bite fact

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