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Photo#642392
Male Black Widow - Latrodectus variolus - male

Male Black Widow - Latrodectus variolus - Male
Pikes Peak, Brown County, Indiana, USA
May 16, 2012
Descended on me while sitting at my desk in my walk-out basement. I felt it brush my arm and then I jumped. No, I was not bitten. Found it 15-May-2012 and I'm still OK. I thought these prefered to be outside. Was it just a mistake it came in?

I am uncertain if it is northern or southern black widow.

Knew there was a reason I saved some petri dishes!

Images of this individual: tag all
Male Black Widow - Latrodectus variolus - male Male Black Widow - Latrodectus variolus - male Male Black Widow - Latrodectus variolus - male Male Black Widow - Latrodectus variolus - male

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

very neat
Latrodectus variolus. Males probably out looking for a girlfriend. Northern widows are less inclined to be around human habitations, but that certainly is not a rule. Other than the occasional transient, I am not sure if L. mactans is native to Indiana. mactans is found in Ohio and Illinois so there is no reason why mactans shouldn't be established in Indiana.

 
L. mactans
L. mactans has been taken in Indiana (Beatty 2002)

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