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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#120746
Black Widow Spider - Latrodectus variolus - female
Copyright © 2007 Marvin Smith

Black Widow Spider - Latrodectus variolus - Female
Ozark Mountains, Searcy County, Arkansas, USA
June 22, 2007
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Contributed by Marvin Smith on 23 June, 2007 - 2:39am
Last updated 24 June, 2007 - 12:44am

Moved
Moved from Latrodectus.
… Marvin Smith, 24 June, 2007 - 12:44am login or register to post comments

Was
this spider in a web before you took the picture?
If so, could you describe it?
It might help with ID between variolus and mactans, I'm thinking the former.
… Jeff Hollenbeck, 23 June, 2007 - 8:59am login or register to post comments

 
Web Unknown
Jo "found" this spider crawling up the back of my leg after I'd made an off-trail excursion chasing a fly. I've got front and rear shots, but not her underneath side. About the only thing I can tell you that you cannot see in this photo is: The red dot/line at her rear extends all the way down and out of sight underneath her. Hope this helps. (Marvin)
… Marvin Smith, 23 June, 2007 - 10:45am login or register to post comments

 
My
guess is it is variolus, and it's web was on a plant or low tree branch, and you probably went right through it when chasing the fly. As a result, the widow wound up on your leg. Just a guess. I think it is safe to move to the variolus page.
… Jeff Hollenbeck, 23 June, 2007 - 2:01pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks for the ID help, Jeff.
She certainly looks like some of the images in L. variolus, so I made the move.
… Marvin Smith, 24 June, 2007 - 12:48am login or register to post comments

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