Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#30169
Immature Northern Black Widow - Latrodectus variolus

Immature Northern Black Widow - Latrodectus variolus
Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA
August 31, 2005
Size: 3mm
Found on the underside of a rock.

Yikes
this one looks like an immature widow to me.

 
You're right!!
It matches up nicely with another picture in the guide.
I had no idea these were in Massachusetts, but the National Audubon Insects and Spiders book says their range is from Massachusetts to Florida and west. I guess I'll be careful with the spiders even up here, not that I'm not already. Thanks for the ID Lynette.

 
Northern Black Widow?
I would also suggest that if it is a juvenile widow (which I agree it definitely might be...), that it is a Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus) based on the fact it was found in MA.

The resources I checked indicate that the upper range of the Southern widow (L. mactans) stops around New York / Northern PA, but the Northern widow ranges from central Maine to farther south (S. Carolina'ish?).

BTW: Nice image!

 
Latrodectus variolus
Thanks Christopher, for the species ID. It sure would make sense that it's a "Northern" up here in Massachusetts.