question regarding black widows

[alex21]

HI,
I wouldlike to know what type of black widow gets really big. I have seen a pretty big black widow, but didn't know what species it was. can anybody tell me what species of black widow are the biggest? i'd reallly appreciate it.
Thanks

[edesign]

I have a Latrodectus mactans that I caught outside the laundry room here at my apartment complex...with the legs spread completely out it measures 2.5", give or take a few millimeters :D

I posted a picture of it about a month ago or so...if you look back a few pages in this forum you'll see the thread, it's entitled "Caught a HUGE black widow" or something like that.

From my understanding it's rare to see them that large if they're wild caught...2" is pretty big for them. I know there's a couple other people on this forum who have some Latrodectus species in the 2"+ range...think they were the L. hesperus? Some of them responded to my thread...

[TroyMcClureOG82]

L hesperus do reach the 2"+ range. Really I think most black widows can with the right feeding

[xanadu1015]

Either one can get really big, it all depends on how much they eat and how long they live.


Here's one of my widows, Morticia. She's about a little over an inch long and still growing.




Laura

[USMuscle9403]

L. mactans can get pretty big, I've caught some enormous females around here. Word of warning, this may not be how others are but I would NOT feed her all she can eat. I've heard of stories and have known a guy whose widow ate until she literally burst. I never saw the spider but I dunno why he'd lie about it, and I have read stories like this before. So just to be on the safe side, I wouldn't feed her 'til she pops ;)

[edesign]

I've also heard people say that scorpions will eat til they burst (and tarantula's)...as far as I know none are verified, just some T's with some truly HUUUUGE butts :D

[xanadu1015]

My two girls Morticia and Elvirah eat about 2 to 3 crickets a week or less. My younger one Elvirah seems to eat more than her older counterpart.



Laura

[Malhavoc's]

I find CB grow to large sizes mostely because of feeding schedual/constant enviroment less preds/parasites. I wouldn't be suprised if a CB female reached 2.75 inchs, I know I've had one female that when mesured after death was 2.61 inches.