Common Name: Black Widow Spider
Scientific Name: Latrodectus spp.
Family: Theridiidae
Metamorphosis: Simple
Introduction: These spiders get their common name from the popular belief that the female eats the male after mating, a phenomenon which rarely happens in nature. The genus Latrodectus is worldwide in distribution, with five species occurring in the United States. Recognition of the genus is sufficient for PCO purposes.
Recognition: Adult female body length about 1/2" (12-13 mm) including an almost spherical abdomen about 1/4-3/8" (7.2-9.6 mm) in diameter, with overall length including legs of about 1 1/2-1 3/8" (38-43 mm); males about half female size. Typically black, abdomen on ventral or underneath side with two reddish triangular markings usually joined to form a reddish hourglass shaped marking but sometimes separated ("split hourglass"); usually with red markings above spinnerets. Females usually black (occasionally) brownish black.