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Cool Facts About Black Widows

Try to mention the name of the black widow spider, and you will receive frantic glances and exclamations such as “What?” “Where?” However, these spider species aren’t as dangerous and one-dimensional as popular culture suggests.

It has a poisonous bite with a strong spider web in which the male spiders become home wreckers, continuing the odd courting ritual.

Interesting facts about the black widow spider:

These fascinating facts about the black widow spider will help in identifying them and locate their spider webs.

Black widow spiders aren’t always black:

When you are discussing the black widow spiders, people assume and think of a particular spider species. But there are different kinds of black widow spiders (northern, southern, and western).

Black widow spiders encompass thirty-one species of Latrodectus spiders worldwide. Black widow spiders aren’t always black because some species have distinct red markings, and some have reddish-black color.

Only adult female black widow spiders bite:

Female widow spiders can penetrate and bite on the vertebrate skin more effectively than males. They have larger bodies than male widow spiders. Female widow spiders inject more venom when they bite.

Some experts even claim that male widow spiders don’t bite at all.

Black widow females rarely consume their mates:

Black widow spiders practice sexual cannibalism, where tiny male spiders sacrifice their life after mating. The term has made the black widow spiders so famous that it has become a synonym for femme fatale, a seductress female spider who lures male spiders intending to cause harm to them.

Most widow spiders are recognized by the red hourglass marking:

Nearly all-black female widow spiders have a distinct red hourglass marking under the abdomen. The hourglass is red or orange, contrasting to its shiny black body.

The hourglass of the northern black widow spider is incomplete with a break in the middle. Latrodectus bishopi does not have an hourglass marking at all.

Black widow spiders make cobwebs:

Black widow spiders belonging to the spider family construct sticky and irregular silk cobwebs to catch their prey. These spider species have a row of bristles around their back legs to help them cover with the silk.

The black widow spider venom is fifteen times toxic than that of the rattlesnake:

Black widow spiders inject a powerful punch of neurotoxins in their bites. The venom injected inside the victim may face muscle cramps, severe pain, hypertension, and weakness.

However, they are smaller than rattlesnakes. The toxicity of their venom is fifteen times more than that of rattlesnakes.

Female black widows have poor eyesight:

Black widows feel the vibrations of the web when the predator comes in contact with the silk threads. The black widow female spiders hide in a hole or crevices.

The male widow spiders will cut and rearrange the female’s web. They take advantage of female spiders, making it difficult for her to sense what’s happening around them.

Wrapping up:

After looking at the facts of the black widow spider, don’t you think these insects are fascinating? However, you need to remove them immediately from your house or around your home if you find them. Make sure to call pest control professionals and remove the spider infestation immediately.