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#994635
unidentified spider - Latrodectus variolus
Copyright © 2014 mholland

unidentified spider - Latrodectus variolus
Hartland, Windsor County, Vermont, USA
September 11, 2014
There are two horizontal white lines at front of cephalothorax, and one vertical white line on each side of cephalothorax.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by mholland on 11 September, 2014 - 4:00pm
Last updated 11 September, 2014 - 6:09pm

Immature
It's immature; whichever it is, L. variolus, or L. mactans.

Based on location, variolus is more likely, but it closely resembles the immature mactans that I've seen at least. So much variation in juveniles of this genus!
… Tyler Armstrong, 29 September, 2014 - 10:45am login or register to post comments

 
When differentiatiing between ...
juvenile L. mactans and L. variolus we look at the second spot on the abdomen. L. mactans presents as longer than wide:

L. variolus is wider than long:


I don't think that method would be reliable with an emaciated individual though.
… Laura P., 29 September, 2014 - 11:18am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Laura P., 11 September, 2014 - 6:09pm login or register to post comments

Black Widow (Lactrodectus)
One of the species of black widow. I assume it is either the Northern or Southern black widow.
… Chao "Jimmy" Wu, 11 September, 2014 - 4:02pm 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