Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
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#204986
Male black widow - Latrodectus variolus - male
Copyright © 2008 Ben Beemer

Male black widow - Latrodectus variolus - Male
Farwell, Clare County, Michigan, USA
September 16, 2007
Size: 1/2"
Male, Latrodectus mactans

Images of this individual: tag all
Sub -Adult Black Male Widow - Latrodectus variolus - male Male black widow - Latrodectus variolus - male
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Ben Beemer on 22 July, 2008 - 9:35pm
Last updated 6 August, 2010 - 7:49am

Moved
Moved from Widow Spiders.
… john and jane balaban, 6 August, 2010 - 7:49am login or register to post comments

due to range (and coloration-
due to range (and coloration- which granted, it is only penultimate), wouldn't this be variolus?
… widowman10, 19 July, 2010 - 10:49am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Spiders.
… john and jane balaban, 27 July, 2008 - 7:15pm login or register to post comments

Sub-Adult Male
It's definately a male. The rounded pedipalps ("boxing gloves") are clearly visible in front of the specimen's head. I believe it is also a sub-adult, since the spider has not yet gained the typical slender/lanky appearance of an adult male Widow.
… Brett Tyler, 23 July, 2008 - 8:42am login or register to post comments

 
Yes
This is a male ... not fully mature.
… Brian Kinn, 25 December, 2008 - 1:40am login or register to post comments

widow
this is a widow. I don't think you can tell if it is a male or female or if it is Northern or Southern from this image. You would need images of the palps for sex and the belly for the hour glass mark which will determine N or S.
… Lynette Elliott, 22 July, 2008 - 11:44pm login or register to post comments

 
the widow
if you want i could put a picture of it turned over to reveal its underside but i took the picture when it was dead
… Ben Beemer, 24 July, 2008 - 1:49pm login or register to post comments

 
sure
add it to this one.

I've linked your images for you.
… Lynette Elliott, 24 July, 2008 - 2:28pm login or register to post comments

 
Error
never mind this comment
… Ben Beemer, 24 July, 2008 - 1:45pm login or register to post comments

...
Or variolus?

You should crop this, and also brighten it up a bit so the whites are white instead of grey. Only you and our editors can see the 3072x2048 image you uploaded.
… Jay Barnes, 22 July, 2008 - 11:15pm login or register to post comments

 
widow
no idea what that means, i tried to but it came out too white, like irregular white
… Ben Beemer, 25 July, 2008 - 6:14pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact