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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynae » Cobweb Spiders (Theridiidae) » Widow Spiders (Latrodectus) » Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus)
Photo#72023
Brown Widow - Latrodectus geometricus - female
Copyright © 2006 Guy E. Crauwels

Brown Widow - Latrodectus geometricus - Female
Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA
My thoughts were that this was a L. Geometricus , since I had seen quite a few around my house . It is difficult to tell if it is a brown or black widow.
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Contributed by Guy E. Crauwels on 21 August, 2006 - 11:06am
Last updated 23 August, 2006 - 1:01pm

Looks like L. mactans.
I would say this is L. mactans, perhaps a young one. As they age, female black widows get gradually darker, losing the bright markings of their youth, including the leg bands.
… Eric R. Eaton, 21 August, 2006 - 2:17pm login or register to post comments

 
Yes, but
it is in fact a brown widow. Brown widows are sometimes very dark with no dorsal markings. The other extreme is almost white.

The white markings near the spinnerets is one way to ID this specimen as a brown widow.
… Jeff Hollenbeck, 22 August, 2006 - 7:44pm login or register to post comments

 
widow spider
that is not L.geometricus that is L.mactans
… black widow, 8 July, 2009 - 5:23pm login or register to post comments

 
Brown or Black , hard to tell
Thank you. I have wondered about this pic for awhile. I had found many L. Geometricus around my house that year , with most having light
coloring on the abdomen , but this one was unusual.
… Guy E. Crauwels, 23 August, 2006 - 1:00pm login or register to post comments

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