Need help identifying (probable) Widow

**Code Monkey** · 08-20-2002, 04:42 PM

I'm trying to identify a spider I captured about 2 weeks ago while trapped with the in-laws.

It's a classic black widow type, all black except for 2 red ovals/bars on the dorsal side of the abdomen and one oval/bar on the ventral side - not what you'd call an hourglass, though. It was captured in a wood pile in eastern Maryland. At any rate, it's not L. mactans but I'd like to know what she is - one of the neatest spiders I've ever had.

As an added bonus she dropped me an egg sac about 36 hours after I got her

Alex S. · 08-20-2002, 06:19 PM

Hey, Code Monkey, what you found was Latrodectus variolus, commonly known as the northern black widow. It is one of three black widow species found in the USA. It ranges most of the northeastern US.

Alex S.

**Code Monkey** · 08-20-2002, 07:25 PM

Yep, that's her - looked up some pictures for variolus. Thanks much - I was gong nuts trying to find a page with good ID pics since 99% of the pics show L. mactans and then proceed to tell me how I can kill them

08-20-2002, 04:42 PM	#1
Code Monkey The Jolly Green Nadkicker Arachnomoderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Midstate NY Posts: 3,884 My Mood:	Need help identifying (probable) Widow I'm trying to identify a spider I captured about 2 weeks ago while trapped with the in-laws. It's a classic black widow type, all black except for 2 red ovals/bars on the dorsal side of the abdomen and one oval/bar on the ventral side - not what you'd call an hourglass, though. It was captured in a wood pile in eastern Maryland. At any rate, it's not L. mactans but I'd like to know what she is - one of the neatest spiders I've ever had. As an added bonus she dropped me an egg sac about 36 hours after I got her __________________ . "... extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and that what can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence." - Christopher Hitchens "Life's lessons will be repeated until learned" - anonymous

08-20-2002, 06:19 PM	#2
Alex S. Arachnolord Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 646	Latrodectus variolus Hey, Code Monkey, what you found was Latrodectus variolus, commonly known as the northern black widow. It is one of three black widow species found in the USA. It ranges most of the northeastern US. Alex S.

08-20-2002, 07:25 PM	#3
Code Monkey The Jolly Green Nadkicker Arachnomoderator Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Midstate NY Posts: 3,884 My Mood:	Yep, that's her - looked up some pictures for variolus. Thanks much - I was gong nuts trying to find a page with good ID pics since 99% of the pics show L. mactans and then proceed to tell me how I can kill them __________________ . "... extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and that what can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence." - Christopher Hitchens "Life's lessons will be repeated until learned" - anonymous

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)