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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#648141
Black Widow Spider Female - Latrodectus variolus - female
Copyright © 2012 entangled

Black Widow Spider Female - Latrodectus variolus - Female
Louisa County, Virginia, USA
May 25, 2012
One of the MANY female black widow spiders we've found on our house in the last week. I'd like species ID, if possible. Another question for your consideration: Is there anything that would attract them to our house in such large numbers? We do have a number of wasps' nests around the house, as you can see in the photo. Do they prey on wasp larvae?
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Contributed by entangled on 28 May, 2012 - 9:25am
Last updated 14 August, 2012 - 10:27pm

Moved to Latrodectus variolus
Moved from Widow Spiders.
… Lynette Elliott, 14 August, 2012 - 10:27pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request. I don't think they prey on wasp larvae. That wasp nest is empty (probably from last season), and I don't think they would live that close to a widow. I had a population boom at my house in NC one summer. I think that happens with any animal that has the right conditions.
… Lynette Elliott, 28 May, 2012 - 10:29am login or register to post comments

 
on a flip note, the wasps mig
on a flip note, the wasps might be there b/c of the widows! wasps prey heavily on widow spiders.

https://sites.google.com/site/widowman10/predation-of-widows
… widowman10, 14 August, 2012 - 11:03am login or register to post comments

 
Thats cool!
Do you have a species ID for this one?

Thanks for all your IDs on the widows!
… Lynette Elliott, 14 August, 2012 - 3:20pm login or register to post comments

 
welcome! lots of fun :)
welcome! lots of fun :)


i'm thinking this is a variolus. seems consistent with the varieties found around that part (virginia).
… widowman10, 14 August, 2012 - 3:35pm login or register to post comments

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