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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynae » Cobweb Spiders (Theridiidae) » Widow Spiders (Latrodectus) » Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)
Photo#869321
Spider in MD - Latrodectus mactans
Copyright © 2013 archer78af

Spider in MD - Latrodectus mactans
Annapolis, Maryland, USA
November 10, 2013
Found 2 of these order he red bricks I used to line my garden. First one crawled off before I could get my camera. I tried looking it up by features but kept finding western black widow...would that be right for Maryland? It is shiny black with orange spots encircled with white rings, and white stripes. There were also some unidentifiable dead insects nearby to this spider.
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Contributed by archer78af on 24 November, 2013 - 8:05pm
Last updated 25 November, 2013 - 7:22am

Moved
Moved from ID Request. Yes it is most likely L. mactans based on dorsal pattern. The names Southern & Northern Black Widow give the perception of a large range difference, but really they are both found in most states in the East.

Be sure to wear gloves when you are gardening.
… Lynette Elliott, 25 November, 2013 - 7:22am login or register to post comments

Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus)
I'm guessing Northern black widow judging by your location. Someone can probably tell you more.
… Chao "Jimmy" Wu, 24 November, 2013 - 9:48pm login or register to post comments

 
L. mactans
This may be L. mactans. The middle red spot is longitudinally stretched, and Maryland is in range for L. mactans.

L. variolus showing middle red spot stretched laterally:


L. mactans showing middle red spot stretched longitudinally:
… Brian Stone, 25 November, 2013 - 3:09am login or register to post comments

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