Black Widow
Black Widows live throughout all four deserts of the American Southwest. They can be found on the underside of ledges, rocks, plants, garages, steps and anywhere else where a web can be strung. Widow spiders are the best known and largest of the Cobweb Weavers. Black Widows comprise about 6 species and inhabit most warmer regions of the world.
The female Black Widow is shiny black, usually with a reddish hourglass shape on the underside of her spherical abdomen. Her body is about 1 inch long. Black Widows spin webs that lack shape and form. Their webs are erratic in appearance, and the silk is stronger than almost all other spiders. The female Black Widow lays several batches, containing up to 750 eggs each, in one summer. The egg case, about 1/2 inch in diameter, is suspended in the web. It is white to tan in color and has a paper-like texture. Young Black Widows are colored orange and white when they emerge, they change color about 4 weeks later. The female Black Widow may live for more than a year and a half. Females rarely leave their web, but will bite if threatened.
Male Black Widows wander in search of females but do not feed or bite. They are not often seen because they are usually eaten by the female after mating. The male Black Widow is usually brown and is about half the size of the female. He may have a pair of reddish stripes on the sides of his abdomen.
Like most arachnids, the Black Widow preys on insects. After ensnaring its prey in the web, the Black Widow makes small punctures in the victim's body and sucks out the liquid contents.
Black Widow bites are initially often not painful and may even go unnoticed for several hours. All Black Widows are poisonous. Their bite can cause abdominal pain, similar to appendicitis, as well as pain to muscles or the soles of the feet. Other symptoms include alternating salivation and dry-mouth, paralysis of the diaphragm, profuse sweating and swollen eyelids. Although antivenin is available in most areas, it is rarely used. It may take several days to recover from some Black Widow bites, but recovery usually occurs without serious complications.
Female Black Widow
Male Black Widow
