Detailed information on Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)

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RustyRod

Loveland, CO | April 2017 | Positive

During a Horticulture class we found a large Black Widow chilling next to the door to the classroom. She was captured and held as a trophy by the course assistant. This was in Fort Collins, Colorado.

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sallyg

Anne Arundel,, MD (Zone 7b) | September 2013 | Neutral

I've had dozens of black widows around our house for years. They seem to like a hot (sun warmed) place, near the ground. Their web is usually not very big or extensive. And it feels very, very strong when you touch the strands. And their egg masses have a certain look too.
Once you've had some, you start to get a feel for them, so to speak!

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PTCGAZ

Black Canyon City, AZ | April 2013 | Neutral

I have had these around for many years, they are harmless unless you interfere with a nesting female. The males have less potent venom. As for the venom, it really depends how much is injected.

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nutsnberries

Jonesville, NC | March 2012 | Neutral

These spiders like the shelter of holes in the ground. I don't recommend adding "toad houses," building shelters for toads in your garden if you live where these spiders live. I found Southern Black Widows in two out of three houses. They tried to hide when I lifted the lids. . .

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timmijo

Ellendale, DE (Zone 7a) | August 2010 | Neutral

Can anyone tell me exactly how poisonous the black widow is to human beings? They are prolific in my Delaware yard, requiring me to act as "outdoor" spider police when my kids were young. Now I have eased up somewhat, but I'm still curious about the bite--is it fatal or just bad?

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ArgiopesROCK

| September 2008 | Positive

This elegant creature lives under my basketball pole on my driveway. I was catching grasshoppers for ZZ (read my diary) when I saw a collection of web under it. I looked in close and then a black streak swooshed under the pole. I saw about...120 red babies. I saw an instant later a black widow crawling around the mess of web tending to her young. It was an amazing sight. A threw a grasshopper in there and the babies went wild. The mother tied it up instantly and began hanging with its "arms" off the web and stabbed the grasshopper at least 30 times with its legs. It finally injected it with posion and dragged it. Ants somehow got into it and the whole web of babies were wiped out. Now the Widow stays only in the shadows of the basketball pole water tank. She has a web for bugs that might c... read more

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SimbiDlo

Snyder, TX | September 2007 | Neutral

I keep several as pets, ( if you keep the container upside down they will spin at the bottom of it so feeding is easier, as they are no here near the top! ) It is dangerous, but Swiss gun scope makers pay big bucks for the web ( it is the thinnest and strongest fiber they can use and it makes the BEST gun scopes ) so I hope one day to be able to sell the webs.

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duckmother

North Little Rock, AR (Zone 7b) | October 2006 | Negative

I was bitten on the face, by a nasty little black widow, while on vacation. I was very ill and swollen! Needless to say, my vacation was not very fun. Oh well, that is what I get for kissing spiders ;o))

Southern Black Widow

Latrodectus mactans

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