Skip to main content

Black Widow Spider

Photo by Yasser
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

33.6474, -117.632

Field Notes

Description:

Smaller female specimen with red hour glass on abdomen

Habitat:

Was hiding near a door

Notes:

I saw a few other larger ones and will try to photo them.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (7)

Looks so tiny and hrmless.the name "black widow spider" itself makes it notorious as most humans consider them highly venemous.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/blackwidow.htm Here is a link I found. These can affect the nervous system. But it is only adult females which have these markings! I guess it is good to practice caution in general and not always go by the markings!
I never seen them yet Emma, even sometimes of my life were base in the forest. Maybe its not common in Philippine forest. They are really venomous! good idea to take them more serious this time.
Thank you Yasser! Wow, I am speechless, been waiting for this mo....sweet! What you have here is an american black widow(Latrodectus mactans) with a venom powerful enough to kill a person(although medicines can now prevent this happening). This shy spider hide away if disturbed, but like to live near people. of the main ingredients in their venom,one knocks out insects and paralyses mammals and birds by destroying their nervous systems.
I've always been fascinated with them. When I was 7 I caught a large one and put it in glass jar so I could take it to show-and-tell. My teacher didn't appreciate it at all and proceeded to scold me in front of the class, haha! I took it home and stared at it for a few hours then released it in my backyard. I think I've been hooked ever since :)
They say the cold winters keep these out of Vermont. I think they are actually beautiful, in their own way, but any time i reach into a wood pile i am glad they aren't here too.
Unfortunately, the photo is blurry, but you can still make out the red hour glass.
Photographed
PublishedNovember 28, 2010

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon