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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynes » Cobweb Spiders (Theridiidae) » Widow spiders (Latrodectus) » Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)
Photo#158058
Latrodectus spp? - Latrodectus mactans
Copyright © 2007 Lynne

Latrodectus spp? - Latrodectus mactans
London, Pope County, Arkansas, USA
November 23, 2007
Size: 2-3 cm or 1/4"
found on the outside of a concrete planter under some dirty dog blankets outside right next to the house. It's cold out (around 28 last night) and the spider was moving very slowly, so I was able to manipulate it to get different angle shots. I was intrigued by the other spider right next to it, wondering if that was the mate. Can anyone help me determine whether this widow is Latrodectus mactans or variolus? Plus...is that the mate and if so, why hasn't he been eaten?

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Latrodectus spp? - Latrodectus mactans Latrodectus spp? - Latrodectus mactans Latrodectus spp? - Latrodectus mactans
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Contributed by Lynne on 23 November, 2007 - 10:36pm
Last updated 21 December, 2007 - 6:20pm

A
mactans.
Males often leave the web unharmed.

The other spider is some kind of cellar spider.
… Jeff Hollenbeck, 23 November, 2007 - 10:42pm login or register to post comments

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