Black widow - half an hourglass?

My stepdad found a black widow recently in Redding, California but she only has half of the telltale hourglass shape. In other words, one red triangle where you'd expect to see two. Is this very common? I ask because when I mention her some people question me on if she's even really a black widow, but I don't know any spiders that look like that otherwise.

Thanks in advance!

Contributed by Mariah Bowline on 25 April, 2007 - 5:39pm

Yes.

Mature widows (genus Latrodectus) have an extremely high degree of individual variation. The markings also vary by age. All black widows start out as white spiderlings, believe it or not. Females gradually lose most of their markings as they age. In some species, such as Latrodectus mactans, females usually retain a full hourglass, a red spot near the spinnerets, and often DORSAL (top side) red spots or stripes as well. Black widows are BLACK, whereas "false widows" of the genus Steatoda are deep purplish brown.

… Eric R. Eaton, 26 April, 2007 - 1:24pm

Thanks!

Thank you so much for the thorough answer. ^_^

… Mariah Bowline, 26 April, 2007 - 1:35pm

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