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) » Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus)
Photo#667021
ID help please - Black Widow of some sort? - Latrodectus hesperus
Copyright © 2012 Tzila "Z" Duenzl

ID help please - Black Widow of some sort? - Latrodectus hesperus
Weatherford, Parker County, Texas, USA
June 30, 2012
This was under some bricks in the front yard. Have never seen one like this, and would appreciate some ID help. Thanks.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Tzila "Z" Duenzl on 2 July, 2012 - 7:38am
Last updated 17 September, 2016 - 10:00am

Moved
Moved from Widow Spiders.
… Jeff Hollenbeck, 17 September, 2016 - 10:00am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Southern Black Widow. To me, the pattern seems L. hesperus-like ("western black widow"), and this is within the zone where both the southern and western species can potentially be found. Not certain of anything at this point, so just felt moving this to genus level might be best for now. Talked with widowman and I think he agreed for the most part.
… Mandy Howe, 25 February, 2014 - 11:13am login or register to post comments

Moved to Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)
Moved from Widow Spiders.
… Lynette Elliott, 14 August, 2012 - 3:17pm login or register to post comments

mactans! pretty one.
mactans! pretty one.
… widowman10, 14 August, 2012 - 11:27am login or register to post comments

Moved to widows
Moved from ID Request.

I think I would have guessed Western Black Widow. I usually wait for widowman to comment as he has a better handle on these than I do.
… Lynette Elliott, 2 July, 2012 - 9:15am login or register to post comments

 
Ok thanks...and a question:
Is this the male, and do they bite?
… Tzila "Z" Duenzl, 3 July, 2012 - 1:19pm login or register to post comments

 
Female
I think it's a female. Both males & females can bite, but the male widow's bite is supposed to be harmless. Keep in mind that juvenile widows of either sex can sometimes look very similar.

You can see more info on this page.
… Lynette Elliott, 3 July, 2012 - 3:58pm login or register to post comments

 
you're probably right
western widows are native to TX although Parker Co is more eastern TX
… wolfpacksved, 3 July, 2012 - 1:17pm login or register to post comments

yes black widow
Latrodectus mactans
… wolfpacksved, 2 July, 2012 - 8:08am 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