Black Widow Spider

Latrodectus mactans

The female Black Widow Spider waits upside down on her ragged web, guarding her egg sac and flashing her red warning mark. Black Widows are shy creatures and they usually retire quickly to a dark corner or some other shelter when their web Is disturbed. The bite of a black widow is dangerous, but rarely fatal to a healthy person. The male does not bite.

Look For : A glossy black spider. The female's abdomen is almost round with a red hourglass pattern on the underside. The male is smaller, marked with red and white along the sides.

Length : Female: 3/8". Male: 1/8".

Habitat : Piles of wood, brush, or trash; cellars.

Range : Most common in the South; can be found north to Kansas and Massachusetts.