Latrodectus hesperus, commonly known as the western black widow spider or western widow, is a venomous spider found across western North America, from southwestern Canada and the Pacific coast through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and into Mexico. Females measure 14 to 16 millimeters in body length and are black with an hourglass shaped marking on the underside of the abdomen, usually red but sometimes yellow or white; males are about half the size and generally beige with lighter striping. The species builds irregular, messy webs rather than an organized spiral or tunnel shape. Its venom is a potent neurotoxin that causes pain, nausea, vomiting and localized sweating in humans, though a study of more than 23,000 documented bites between 2000 and 2008 recorded no fatalities. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleAgricultural or Structural Pest 1 Living or Extinct Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Wikidata: Latrodectus hesperus
In Biome
Desert, Biomes Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Latrodectus hesperus
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Latrodectus hesperus
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyPrimary Diet, Latrodectus hesperus
Primary Diet carnivore carnivore
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative Impacts
Negative Impacts injures humans bites or stings venomous venomous household pest
Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
In Biome: Desert, Habitat Regions, biome: desert or dune
desert or dune desert or dune
View the Source 2. GBIF Species API
3. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ113414, descriptionView the Source 4. NatureServe Explorer: Latrodectus hesperus
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
View the Source 5. Wikidata: Latrodectus hesperus
Child Taxon Of: Black Widow Spider, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q385932 (Black Widow Spider)View the Source 6. GBIF (IUCN Red List category): GBIF IUCN Red List category for Latrodectus hesperus
GBIF (IUCN Red List category)GBIF taxon key 2157942, category fieldQuote, GBIF taxon key 2157942, category field
"category": "NOT_EVALUATED"
View the Source Latrodectus hesperus (Wikipedia)
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