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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynes » Antmimics and Ground Sac Spiders (Corinnidae) » Castianeira » Redspotted Antmimic (Castianeira descripta)
Photo#116302
Is this a Black Widow? - Castianeira descripta
Copyright © 2007 orbman

Is this a Black Widow? - Castianeira descripta
Nelson County, Virginia, USA
I think that this is a black widow spider, but am not sure.
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Contributed by orbman on 7 June, 2007 - 8:18am
Last updated 24 June, 2007 - 1:58pm

Moved
Moved from Spiders.
… Jeff Hollenbeck, 24 June, 2007 - 1:58pm login or register to post comments

Castianeira
Looks very similar to this spider found here. I'm no expert on spiders so I can't tell you it's the exact same species but I think that's a good starting point.
… Nick Fensler, 7 June, 2007 - 11:22am login or register to post comments

 
I agree.
Definitely NOT a black widow, but perhaps a 'mimic' of one. This kind of spider hunts without a web, so is more vulnerable to attack from predators itself. None in the genus Castianeira are dangerous.
… Eric R. Eaton, 7 June, 2007 - 1:27pm login or register to post comments

Welcome to Bug Guide
I have only very limited experience and that with western widows; this doesn't look like those I've seen. (Ours are shaped differently and typically shiny with much less red.)

If you'd like to browse through some black widow images, use this link: http://bugguide.net/node/view/1999/bgpage

Note also that there's an Info tab associated with each image, where you can often get quick facts, plus an Image tab to access additional photos.
… Ron Hemberger, 7 June, 2007 - 10:27am login or register to post comments

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