Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

Order:
Scientific Name: Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

Latrodectus variolus - Northern black widow Theridiidae Members:			NC Records	BugGuide Account	Public View

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Male

Second red spot wider than long

Hourglass can be split in variolus

Red spot wider than long

Distribution Records
PDF

Vetting Levels

Adult phenology:
High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
Piedmont (Pd)
Coastal Plain (CP)

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synonym

taxonomic_comments

species_comment

id_comments

Females are shiny black, brown-black, with possibly a row of red spots on the top of the abdomen along the midline. Two reddish triangles resembling an hourglass are present on the underside of the abdomen. The male’s abdomen usually has red spots along the upper midline and white lines or bars radiating out to the sides. (The number of bars can indicate which species.) hourglass primarily split or partial, when complete anterior and posterior halves generally proportional. Hourglass often split in middle, with both halves or one half prominent to reduced, or hourglass is partial (anterior or posterior half absent) with either posterior or anterior half prominent or reduced, or hourglass is completely absent. Adult males show same hourglass variations as adult females. Northern black widow males have a wider than long 2nd orange/red spot.

total_length

Size of females 9-11 mm, males about 6 mm.

structural_features

silk_web

Cobweb a large tangle of tough silk, retreat funnels into litter. Female uses silk to make a round, smooth white or light brown egg case.

fld_guide_descriptions

online_photos

prey

predators

behavior

Females are sedentary, staying on or near their web. They will bite if molested. Males and immatures are harmless.

distribution_reference

technical_reference

adult_id

1 identifiable by photo 2 identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info 3 identifiable from specimen only

abundance

Occasional

distribution_comments

Eastern United States

checklist_mt_high
>=4,000 ft.

Regular	Frequent	Infrequent	Occasional	Seldom	Frequency Regular – almost always observed on given visit; >=90% chance of observation Frequent – usually observed on a given visit; >=50%<90% chance of observation Infrequent – observed less than 50% of visits; >=25%<50% chance of observation Occasional – observed on only on a small minority of visits; >=10%<25% chance of observation Seldom – not usually seen on visits; <10% chance of observation These terms refer to visits to appropriate habitats made at appropriate times of the year, making use of common sampling/observation methods. Under those conditions, Frequency refers to the chance of observing at least one individual on a given visit made anywhere within a particular region, or over multiple visits to a single site.

checklist_mt_low
<4,000 ft.

Regular	Frequent	Infrequent	Occasional	Seldom

checklist_pd
Piedmont

Regular	Frequent	Infrequent	Occasional	Seldom

checklist_cp
Coastal Plain

Regular	Frequent	Infrequent	Occasional	Seldom

habitat

Dry forest with sheltered or shady locations.

observation_methods

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Latrodectus variolus Northern black widow
	Recorded by: C. Blake, T. Chisholm, M. Gentry Iredell Co. Comment: LANO - Was found on forest edge within a patch of sensitive briar. @ -80.942365, 35.668265	Recorded by: C. Blake, T. Chisholm, M. Gentry Iredell Co. Comment: LANO - Was found on forest edge within a patch of sensitive briar. @ -80.942365, 35.668265
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Chatham Co. Comment: White Pines Survey	Recorded by: Sara Lalk Wake Co. Comment: Live adult on seedling loblolly pine.
	Recorded by: Sara Lalk Wake Co. Comment: Live adult on seedling loblolly pine.	Recorded by: Sara Lalk Wake Co. Comment: Live adult on seedling loblolly pine.
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment: Male had disappeared while I went inside to get the camera.	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment: Sorry Donald, just found the male and wanted to post.
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Hertford Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Hertford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Gaston Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Travis McLain Gaston Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J. Perry Stokes Co. Comment: HARO	Recorded by: Trip Holzwarth Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Trip Holzwarth Dare Co. Comment:	Recorded by: A. Ledford Wake Co. Comment: FALA
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Rowan Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152170235	Recorded by: Travis McLain Rowan Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152170235
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Rowan Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152170235	Recorded by: D. Schafer Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - Found near picnic area trapping a bee in its web. @ -76.694552, 36.437523
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment: found dead in a lab room
	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment: found dead in a lab room	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Wilkes Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - male near outdoor classroom	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - male near outdoor classroom
	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof Burke Co. Comment: LAJA - Obs. Paddy's Creek Area. Picnic area bathhouse. Female.	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment: HARO
	Recorded by: J. Jakubowski, K. Moore Chatham Co. Comment: JORD	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Surry Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - male on top of overhang of visitor center	Recorded by: J. Williams Vance Co. Comment: KELA - Male Black Widow
	Recorded by: K. Bischof Transylvania Co. Comment: GORG	Recorded by: K. Bischof Transylvania Co. Comment: GORG
	Recorded by: Jane Wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - under plastic in yard at 358 Millpond rd.	Recorded by: K. Bischof, M. Smith Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Caught in a drift fence near the outdoor classroom.
	Recorded by: K. Bischof, M. Smith Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Caught in a drift fence near the outdoor classroom.	Recorded by: Joel Jakubowski Wayne Co. Comment: CLNE
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: FKW, A. Hobbs, J.Greenwood Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - Picnic shelter.
	Recorded by: FKW, A. Hobbs, J.Greenwood Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - Picnic shelter.	Recorded by: D. Harvey Chatham Co. Comment: JORD - Adult female with unusual amount of red markings on dorsal side of abdomen.
	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:

Photo Gallery for Latrodectus variolus Northern black widow