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Latrodectus mactans, known as southern black widow or simply black widow, and the shoe-button spider, [citation needed] is a venomous species of spider in the genus Latrodectus. The females are well known for their distinctive black and red coloring and for the fact that they will occasionally eat their mates after reproduction.
Females of a few species are paler brown and some have no bright markings. The bodies of black widow spiders range from 3–10 mm (0.12–0.39 in) in size; some females can measure 13 mm (0.51 in) in their body length (not including legs). [8] Including legs, female adult black widows generally measure 25–38 mm (1–1.5 in). [9] [10]
Latrodectus hesperus, the western black widow spider or western widow, is a venomous spider species found in western regions of North America. The female's body is 14–16 mm (1/2 in) in length and is black, often with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the lower abdomen. This "hourglass" mark can be red, yellow, and on rare occasions, white.
As to their dangerousness, despite the estimated 2,200 Black Widow bites annually in the nation, only one known death has occurred since 1983. Experts don’t want anyone to know.
The black widow’s venom attacks human nerve cells, and potentially can be dangerous to people — especially small children and older adults with preexisting health conditions.
The widow spiders (genus Latrodectus), such as the black widow, redback spider, and katipō are spiders that carry a neurotoxic venom [18] which can cause a set of symptoms known as Latrodectism. Widow spiders are large, shiny house spiders with relatively spindly legs and deep, globular abdomens.
Since black widows, as well as many other insects, typically build their nests in abandoned crevices and corners, giving things a periodic vacuum or sweep is a great way to keep the widows at bay ...
Latrodectism (/ l æ t r ə ˈ d ɛ k t ɪ z əm /) is the illness caused by the bite of Latrodectus spiders (the black widow spider and related species). Pain, muscle rigidity, vomiting, and sweating are the symptoms of latrodectism.