Western Black Widow
ExploreInvertebrate
Western Black Widow
latrodectus hesperus
The Western Black Widow is a shiny black spider with a distinctive red hourglass shape on its belly. It is known for its web-making skills and can be found in many places, including gardens and forests!
Habitat: They typically live in dark, sheltered areas like woodpiles, under rocks, or inside buildings.
Appearance
The Western Black Widow is a shiny, jet-black spider with a distinctive red hourglass marking on the underside of her rounded abdomen. This hourglass can sometimes look broken or X-shaped, differentiating her from similar species.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassArachnidaOrderAraneaeFamilyTheridiidaeGenusLatrodectus
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Baby black widows are actually orange and white, looking nothing like their parents!
Despite their scary name, male Western Black Widows are tiny and don't have dangerous venom.
Their venom is incredibly potent, said to be 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake's!
They feel vibrations in their web to 'see' where prey or danger is coming from!
Special abilities
Ability
Super Silk Weaver
Western Black Widows can spin incredibly strong, sticky silk because of specialized glands that help them build durable, irregular webs to trap prey.
Ability
Venomous Bite
Western Black Widows possess potent venom that helps them quickly subdue their prey, delivered through fangs.
Ability
Vibration Sensor
Western Black Widows have sensitive hairs on their legs that help them detect tiny vibrations in their web, alerting them to prey or danger.
Diet & Feeding
Western Black Widows are super skilled hunters, munching on insects and other small critters they catch in their sticky webs!
Primary Foods
- grasshoppers
- crickets
- beetles
- flies
- moths
Foraging Method
- Ambush
Ecological connections
parasitizes
Black Widow Egg Parasitoid Wasp
Baeus latrodecti
lays eggs inside black widow egg sacs
eats
Field Cricket
Gryllus assimilis
crickets are a common prey item for the spider
hunts
Black and Yellow Mud Dauber
Sceliphron caementarium
paralyzes and provisions for its larvae
eats
House Fly
Musca domestica
flies often get caught in their sticky webs
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.
Venomous
Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting.
Also known as
Red Hourglass SpiderWestern WidowWidow Spider
Collections
Safety
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Always be cautious and avoid touching spiders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Western Black Widow eat?
Western Black Widows are super skilled hunters, munching on insects and other small critters they catch in their sticky webs!
Where is Western Black Widow usually found?
They typically live in dark, sheltered areas like woodpiles, under rocks, or inside buildings.
How does Western Black Widow hunt?
Ambush
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