Latrodectus
(Widow Spiders)

Latrodectus, commonly known as Widow Spiders, is a genus of spiders in the family Theridiidae. Latrodectus spiders have been sighted 219 times by contributing members. Based on collected data, the geographic range for Latrodectus includes 16 countries and 31 states in the United States. Latrodectus is most often sighted outdoors, and during the month of May.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Arachnida
  • Order: Araneae
  • Suborder: Araneomorphae
  • Family: Theridiidae
  • Genus: Latrodectus

Common Name (AASMore information icon)

Widow Spiders

Other Common Names

Cobweb Spiders, Cob Web Spiders, Comb-footed Spiders, Tangle-web Spiders, Gumfoot-web Spiders, Button Spiders (Africa)

Author

Charles Athanase Walckenaer, 1805

Sightings Overview

There have been 219 confirmed sightings of Latrodectus (Widow Spiders), with the most recent sighting submitted on March 9, 2024 by Spider ID member annieonthemountain. The detailed statistics below may not utilize the complete dataset of 219 sightings because of certain Latrodectus sightings reporting incomplete data.

  • Web: 42% of the time, Latrodectus spiders are sighted in a spider web (Sample size: 213)
  • Sex: 38 female and 35 male.
  • Environment: Latrodectus has been sighted 165 times outdoors, and 74 times indoors.
  • Outdoors: Man-made structure (103). Low foliage (15). High foliage (7). Ground layer (18). Under rock or debris (15). Open field, pasture, grassland (1). Forest (2). Desert area (4).

Location and Range

Latrodectus (Widow Spiders) has been sighted in the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Curacao, India, Israel, Mexico, Pakistan, Qatar, South Africa, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States.

Latrodectus has also been sighted in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia.

Seasonality

Latrodectus has been primarily sighted during the month of May.

  • January: 14
  • February: 24
  • March: 31
  • April: 27
  • May: 40
  • June: 15
  • July: 10
  • August: 8
  • September: 9
  • October: 19
  • November: 10
  • December: 10

Additional Remarks

  • There are 5 different species of Latrodectus (“widow spiders”) in North America.

Latrodectus Species


Featured Pictures

Picture of Latrodectus spp. (Widow Spiders) Enlarge Picture
Picture of Latrodectus spp. (Widow Spiders) - Male - Dorsal Enlarge Picture
Picture of Latrodectus spp. (Widow Spiders) - Dorsal Enlarge Picture
Picture of Latrodectus spp. (Widow Spiders) - Male - Penultimate,Ventral Enlarge Picture
Picture of Latrodectus spp. (Widow Spiders) - Dorsal Enlarge Picture
Picture of Latrodectus spp. (Widow Spiders) - Dorsal Enlarge Picture
Picture of Latrodectus spp. (Widow Spiders) - Dorsal Enlarge Picture
Picture of Latrodectus spp. (Widow Spiders) - Male Enlarge Picture
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