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
BugGuide Gathering
Pack Forest
Washington State
July 10-12, 2009
Details...

Photos from the 2009 gathering
 
Photos from the 2008 gathering in Tennessee
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynes » Cobweb Spiders (Theridiidae) » Widow Spiders (Latrodectus) » Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus)
Photo#272461
a juvenile Western Black Widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus - Latrodectus hesperus
Copyright © 2009 Patricio Velez

a juvenile Western Black Widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus - Latrodectus hesperus
Merced, California, USA
May 3, 2009
Size: 20-25 mm
I found this specimen on the underside of my garbage can.
Eric R. Eaton, from AllExperts.com, identified as a Western Black Widow and says "Black widows begin life as WHITE spiderlings. They gradually lose the pale markings as they age, but since males mature faster than females, they always retain some degree of markings into adulthood (white or red, or both)"
Please visit
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30431636&id=1263348671&op=1&view=all&subj=41833192139&aid=-1&oid=41833192139&saved#/group.php?gid=41833192139
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Patricio Velez on 5 May, 2009 - 9:09am
Last updated 6 June, 2009 - 8:10pm

Moved
Moved from Arthropods.
… john and jane balaban, 6 June, 2009 - 8:10pm login or register to post comments

Western black widow.
Given the location, this would have to be a western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus. It should be noted this person contacted me through AllExperts.com. I thought the spider unique enough to suggest the image be posted here, too. The above comment, after the sentence on the garbage can, is part of MY answer to the initial query.
… Eric R. Eaton, 5 May, 2009 - 11:19am login or register to post comments

 
Western Black Widow, Latrodectus hesperus
Thanks Eric,
I thought it was a good idea to incorporate your answer to my query in the description of the image of this interesting spider.
PV
… Patricio Velez, 5 May, 2009 - 11:40am 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 © 2003-2010 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Site Map
Contact