Black Widow help.

[Elleken]

Over the summer about two or three months ago I caught a Black Widow in Virginia. She is very plump now and seems to be doing well. I was wondering if there is any chance she could be carrying eggs or if she would have had her sac by now. Also I just wanted to know exactly what type she is from her being in Virginia. She has more than one red marking and is all black everywhere else. O yea I'm from New York so I was wondering if there were any chance of finding a mate in any area relatively close.

[Widowman10]

Over the summer about two or three months ago I caught a Black Widow in Virginia. She is very plump now and seems to be doing well. I was wondering if there is any chance she could be carrying eggs or if she would have had her sac by now. Also I just wanted to know exactly what type she is from her being in Virginia. She has more than one red marking and is all black everywhere else. O yea I'm from New York so I was wondering if there were any chance of finding a mate in any area relatively close.

if she's big now, chances are she's going to pop a sac. most WC's have been mated. she could probably be either a mactans or variolus. take a pic of the hrglass if you can. that would help a little bit.

[Elleken]

Sorry about the meh quality of the picture but I have no camera other than my phone.

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo43/E1lek3n/lulz001.jpg


The pic also makes her look alot smaller than she actually is.

[Moltar]

She's probably not gravid (pregnant). I say this only because you've had her for months and she hasn't laid a sac yet. I had 2 WC L variolus this summer and both were popping out sacs within a couple weeks of being caught and continued to do so all summer long.

Maybe she wasn't yet mature when you captured her. Has she molted while in your care?

[Elleken]

Yea I've noticed a molt since I've had her. It was a week or two after I got her.

[Widowman10]

Yea I've noticed a molt since I've had her. It was a week or two after I got her.

yeah, if she molted, she's prob not preggers...

[Elleken]

I checked out both types and she seems to be a mactans by the description that I have read. All black with just two red marks. Guess I'll have to make another trip to Virginia around the same spot I'm pretty sure I spotted a male. O and sorry about the very late response haha.

[Elleken]

I was also wondering if anyone had a male I could either buy or borrow. I would very much like to see her breed and get some more. As soon as I get a better camera I will take a better picture. She's very beautiful.

[Elleken]

She finally has an egg sac. I got her when she was pretty plump and I seem to remember seeing a male by her when I collected her. What are the chances the sac is fertile?

[Widowman10]

She finally has an egg sac. I got her when she was pretty plump and I seem to remember seeing a male by her when I collected her. What are the chances the sac is fertile?

pretty good! :clap:

edit: i re-read what you said about molting. if she molted, it's still probably not good. but who knows? you'll just have to wait and see ;)

[Elleken]

I read somewhere on here I'm pretty sure that someone had some species of latrodectus that had apparently mated before molting and had a sac later. Hopefully this is the case with her. Any way of telling if its fertile? It's fairly large and she seems to be protective of it. Went to take it out and she went crazy. I'll be getting a macro lense soon so I can hopefully get some much better shots of her and my other ones.

[Elleken]

Pretty sure they're fertile. Any tips on ensuring they will hatch? I already know some people that wouldn't mind getting some babies and I'm sure I can hook anyone up with one on here if they want. Send me an IM at amrcncarcinogen4 if anyone wants one.

[menavodi]

I have spiderlings and egg sacks
If you need males I can send you some.
No cost for you.
Pm me if you want.
Fred

[buthus]

There is some literature out there regarding widows mating before final molt. I do believe it was found that sacs are infertile. Fuzzed memory w/out a source so obviously aint worth jack.
But...a decent and fairly easy test would be to go out tonight and get yerself a male. If he dances the dance and she goes for his pick-up lines... she is probably not fertile. If nothing happens (he doest react OR she doest go for it), then you're still left in the dark ...until enough time passes to show signs of a live sac or not. :)

[Elleken]

Yea the only problem is I live in central New York and it is mighty cold. Plus I am almost 100% sure of there not being any widows here at all haha. From what I've read and from growing up here since I was like six that seems to be the case.

[Widowman10]

Yea the only problem is I live in central New York and it is mighty cold. Plus I am almost 100% sure of there not being any widows here at all haha. From what I've read and from growing up here since I was like six that seems to be the case.

haha, i'd almost be 100% sure there are widows there, they're literally freaking everywhere {D

[Elleken]

Haha, if only there were true. I've lived in the same place since my first year of school and I'm 18 now. Pretty sure I've lifted every rock and rolled every log without any sigh whatsoever or a widow. I am going on a roadtrip to new mexico soon and stoping in virginia along the way so hopefully I will be able to grab one there.

[8+)]

L. variolus is up there, but they don't usually live close to man.

[Elleken]

Alright well I guess I'm going to go up my hill and check it out. I live in the middle of nowhere plenty of woods and hills and even on a lake. Maybe somewhere on the 60 acres of land there is one hiding.

[UrbanJungles]

Just got a L. variolis yesterday here in NJ...we were in the 40's last night!
My first of the season....lol
:clap:

[Elleken]

I've checked all over and found nothing. Any tips as to where to get them around here. I think the area I live in must not have a very good population. In my 15 years living here I have no memory of ever seeing one and like I said I live in the woods.

[Elleken]

Anyone have a male mactans they could hook me up with? I could pay.

[Elleken]

She seems to be making a base for another egg sac. From what she did last time it looks to be the same behavior and she looks to be very fat. Is it common for infertile females to lay this many sacs?

[Elleken]

Bringing this back a little bit to ask somethin. Has anyone actually ever seen a black widow in new york? Heard they are up this north seeing as how they go into southern canada, but I have yet to see one ever. I live in the middle of the woods about 20 minutes from any real town so I feel like I'd have as good a chance as any to find one out here.