Black widows are beautiful and distinctive spiders. The definitive black widow is the female, as pictured here. (The male is much smaller and less distinctive.) The scarlet hour-glass marking on the abdomen is the classic identification for this spider, though there is considerable variability of red markings among individuals. Black widows are shy and unaggressive, so are not a serious threat so long as we are careful where we put our fingers while working in their typical habitat. Though unlikely to cause death in a healthy adult, a bite can be a painful and debilitating experience.
Back