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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynae » Cobweb Spiders (Theridiidae) » Widow Spiders (Latrodectus) » Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus)
Photo#155551
Mystery Spider - Latrodectus variolus
Copyright © 2007 Lee Ruth

Mystery Spider - Latrodectus variolus
Cass County, Texas, USA
July 29, 2006
Size: 2"+ leg span
It has been suggested to me that this is a male Black Widow but the size seems totally wrong. This is a Cone Flower it is resting on and that is a nice sized flower.
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Contributed by Lee Ruth on 5 November, 2007 - 7:09pm
Last updated 15 July, 2010 - 12:35pm

Moved
Moved from Widow Spiders.
… Lynette Elliott, 15 July, 2010 - 12:35pm login or register to post comments

variolus male. only var males
variolus male. only var males get this big. nice photo.
… widowman10, 15 July, 2010 - 12:23pm login or register to post comments

Northern black widow male?
The red on the legs along with the markings seem to indicate this is Lactodectus variolus. Pretty shot! Maybe a male looking for a mate?
… Cassie Novak, 5 November, 2007 - 7:39pm login or register to post comments

Looks most similar
to this one . Your specimen has a metallic blue tint that I'm not used to seeing. Male spiders often have very long legs in proportion to their bodies. Remember that the actual measurement of a spider is only the body, legs are not included.
… Lynette Elliott, 5 November, 2007 - 7:38pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you for the ID. There i
Thank you for the ID. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a correct one. I have been trying for over a year to identify it, lol.
… Lee Ruth, 5 November, 2007 - 9:32pm login or register to post comments

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