12/9/2023 0 Comments Tick with black and white stripesBrown widow spiders, Latrodectus geometricus, are difficult to identify due to great variation in coloration. When established, they become common urban pests. This non-native species lived in Florida for decades but now is common in the Gulf Coast states and Southern California. Brown widow spiders, Latrodectus geometricus, are a relatively new pest control entity. Homeowners sometimes get excited because they think they have found a mutant, a hybrid or even a specimen of the Australian red back widow (the last of which has never been found in North America).īROWN WIDOW SPIDERS. The juvenile coloration causes difficulty because of the striping but especially when there is red in the longitudinal abdominal stripe with a red hourglass. Western black widows are found in the western half of the U.S., from desert to mountain habitat. The females eventually turn solid black with a red hourglass on the belly. As they mature, white stripes appear over a tan or olive-green background (Fig. When the babies emerge from the egg sac, they have white abdomens with small black dots. The western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus, is more troublesome to identify. As the spider matures, the white lines dissipate and the background coloration darkens, turning the abdomen solid black. An immature western black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus. The southern black widow is most common in the southeastern quadrant of the United States. However, remnant juve-nile coloration can result in a series of red dots in a line on the abdomen (Fig. As the spider matures, the black overtakes the stripes. The southern black widow, Latrodectus mac-tans, starts off life with white stripes on a dark background color on the abdomen. When the spider matures, the dorsal abdomen will be completely black. An immature southern black widow spider, Latrodectus mactans, with red dorsal spots. ![]() Although the adult females are very characteristic with their shiny black coloration and red hourglass on the belly, immatures (which are sometimes capable of biting) look very different than the mature female. Black widows are of great concern because their toxic bite can result in a doctor visit or even hospitalization. This article hopes to cover some of the difficulties in proper identification of spiders of interest to the pest management industry.īLACK WIDOW SPIDERS. Many are generically colored in tans and browns and require the use of a microscope and some knowledge of spider taxonomy. Identifying spiders properly is not an easy task. Despite usually only causing messy webs or psychological issues, they come right after real pests like ants, cockroaches and termites on the list of creatures that generate the most calls. ![]() Spiders are high on the list of homeowners’ concerns. All Images: Rick Vetter except for center collage: top and bottom left: AdobeStock
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