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Latrodectus mactans
(Southern Black Widow)

Picture ID 45341

Picture of Latrodectus mactans (Southern Black Widow) - Male - Dorsal

Comments & ID Thoughts

I know it's either a Latrodectus Variolus (northern black widow,male),or a Latrodectus Mactans (southern black widow, male). Caught it crawling across my carpet in my family room.

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ItsyBitsy

Hi, see above image for ID. 🙂

Mrscrockett2016

How can you tell the difference between northern and southern?

ItsyBitsy

It looks different in part because it’s male. I placed this as mactans because of the red band on the anterior portion of the abdomen. It presents differently on L. variolus, see how it is thinner and white on this one: https://bugguide.net/node/view/104699/bgimage

Last edited 2 years ago by ItsyBitsy

Additional Pictures

Picture of Latrodectus mactans (Southern Black Widow) - Female - Ventral Enlarge Picture
Picture of Latrodectus mactans (Southern Black Widow) - Male Enlarge Picture
Picture of Latrodectus mactans (Southern Black Widow) - Ventral Enlarge Picture
Picture of Latrodectus mactans (Southern Black Widow) - Dorsal Enlarge Picture