Black Widow

Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 6:55 pm

Black Widow spiders inhabit most of the warmer regions of the world to a latitude of about 45 degrees N. and S. They occur throughout all four deserts of the American Southwest.(Black Widow)

Widow spiders (Genus Latrodectus) are the best known and largest of the Cobweb Weavers (Family Therididae). All widows are venomous, though not all can cause injury to humans. Black Widows comprise about six species and inhabit most of the warmer regions of the world to a latitude of about 45 degrees N.

The female black widow spider, though it is the most venomous spider in North America, seldom causes death as it injects a very small amount of poison when it bites. Reports indicate human mortality at well less than 1% from black widow spider bites. Anyone bitten by a black widow spider should seek medical care; an attempt should be made to catch the spider for identification.

The species L. hesperus is common in the western US and is the Black Widow found in the North American deserts. L. mactans is the Black Widow common in the eastern and central US. The Brown Widow Spider, L. geometricus, is also found in the US.

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