Fauna Black Widow Spider ~Genus Latrodectus~

Fun Facts and Information About the Black Widow Spider

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Among the spiders in the Cobweb Weaver family, there are 6 species of "widow" spiders, and the female Black Widow is the largest in size and popularity. She is about the size of a paper clip, with a shiny black body and round abdomen. The females are easily identified by a red "hour glass" shape on their stomachs that can usually be seen as they hang upside down in the tangled cobwebs they call home.

Here are some interesting facts about Black Widow spider

1. Male Black Widow spiders and juveniles of both sexes (which resemble the male) do not bite, so they are not dangerous to humans.

2. The venom of the female Black Widow spider is 15 times more potent than that of the Prairie Rattlesnake.

3. The female will occasionally dine on the male after mating, hence the name "Widow".

How to prevent a Black Widow bite

• Keep your garage, shed or outdoor workplace free of clutter, as Black Widows can turn any dark corner or crevice into home-sweet- home, whether it be in an empty container, woodpile, tire or shoe.
  
• Black Widow spiders are not always hanging in their webs, especially during the daytime. If you do see a tangled, erratic-looking web, approach with caution, as she might be hiding.
  
• If you do see the Black Widow spider hanging in her web, do not disturb her or attempt to handle her. She is usually shy and non-aggressive, but if provoked can move very fast and will bite.

What to do if you are bitten

• The Black Widow spider may have given you a "dry" bite, meaning no venom was injected. But because the skin was likely punctured, wash the area with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
  
• If you can, try to locate the spider and put it in a baggie or glass jar with a pair of tongs or tweezers, even if it has been smashed.
  
• Young children and the elderly are likely to have a more intense reaction to the venom, so if swelling of the eyelids, reddening of the skin, muscle cramps, muscle spasms, difficulty breathing or vomiting occur, seek medical treatment immediately. Although no one has died from a Black Widow spider bite in the last 10 years, medication can help the muscle spasms and pain, or antivenin may be be administered. People with heart or health problems may have other difficulties or require a hospital stay.

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How to Kill Black Widow Spiders
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Most spiders are harmless, and are actually beneficial to have around your property. However, there are 2 types of spiders in North America which should cause some alarm: the black widow and the brown recluse spider. Here's how to get rid of an infestation, as well as both active and passive ways to kill black widows.

Get Rid of an Infestation

1. Clean out potential hiding spots. Black widows hole up in seldom-disturbed areas, such as woodpiles, storage boxes, the back of closets, and so on. Not only will cleaning these areas eliminate potential habitats, you'll also get rid of areas for black widow prey to live.
2. Prevent spiders from entering your home. The best method to avoid black widows is prevention. By keeping your doors and windows caulked, you are taking an important step in preventing spiders and other insects from getting into your home. Weatherproofing your exits is also very helpful.
3. Call a professional exterminator. If you suspect that your black widow problem is bigger than you can handle on your own, call a professional who's licensed to use heavier insecticides. If possible, ask around a few different businesses for quotes depending on the size of your house and the suspected severity of the infestation.

Eradicate Spiders with Active Methods

1. Spray spiders with an aerosol pesticide. If you see a black widow on the loose, try to spray it with a pesticide first. This is better than trying to smash or stomp on it because the spiders are aggressive and will run at you, if threatened.
2. Squash it. If you don't have a pesticide handy, grab a shoe or other flat object and kill the spider the old-fashioned way. Keep in mind that black widows are quick, and they might run toward you instead of away from you (like most other spiders do).
3. Hunt Them. A bit after sunset, say 9 or 10 pm in the summer time, search for widows in the places you know they are making a home. This is evident by the tough webs they make. Arm yourself with a flashlight, spray glue or hairspray (some sticky aerosol), long pants, shoes,etc. look for them about a foot off of the ground. When you see one, spray it. This alone will kill the widows, reduce the numbers, and keep you from needing long term pesticides.

Eradicate Spiders with Passive Methods

1. Powder the web. Black widows spend a lot of time on their webs, whether it's to guard an egg sac or wait for prey. Sprinkle a non-repellant insecticidal dust over the web when you find it — the dust will eventually kill the spider. Return to the web to make sure the spider is dead, and dispose of both in a sealed plastic bag.
2. Apply residual insecticide to dark corners. A wettable powder applied to corners and nooks will prevent the formation of new webs, making it harder for the black widows to catch prey and thrive.

Tips

• If you are bitten by a black widow, seek medical attention immediately. Though the bite will seem like a small prick and will only show itself by some very small swelling around the area, you may experience abdominal and muscle cramps an hour or more after you have been bitten.
• If you get bitten but you're not 100% sure if it's a dangerous bite, do not be afraid to get medical attention.

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Mac Lethal – Black Widow Spider​

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I feel that sting in my toxic heart
I can't heal that thing cause your claws are sharp
It was nothing to you, when you cut me in two
Left me kicked to the curb feeling ugly and blue
I let these fictions capture me
And it's a lot easier than it has to be
You taste like bitch beer practically
And that's a flavor of my sick sick rhapsody

I'm gonna shoot my dope in the bathroom stall
Try to turn my woes around
I'm gonna stir my whiskey with a nail
I'm gonna guzzle that poison down
I'm gonna spend my rent money at the bar
Because I'm really not all that rich
I'm gonna turn my cell phone off right now
Cause I don't wanna call that bitch

Hook:
I love a girl that don't love me
And I call that girl Black Widow Spider
I need to find me a brand new fix
And bring her back home just to lay beside her
I love a girl that don't love me
And I call that girl Black Widow Spider
I need to find me a brand new fix
Need to bring her back home right now

On the syncopated measure,
I say a little somethin' to alleviate the pressure
Cause everything about you is deviant and clever
You say we need to treat each other better
Uh, are you joking?
I feel like a wounded puppy
Stupid, ugly
You used to love me
but instead of being hurt I'll just think about the time you gave me road-head
Bitch
Tell that dude not to answer your phone when I call you
I'll take a ball bat to his truck
I'd rather just leave you a 45 minute long rant on your answering machine cuz I'm drunk
Plus I can delete it all and re-record it
I wanna thank you for the grief and torment
The ghost in the blanket felt like you
And my bedroom fragrance smells like you

Hook

I'm gonna punch me a hole in the closet door
And try to turn my woes around
I'm gonna stir my brandy with a nail
I'm gonna guzzle that poison down
I'm gonna work things out on the telephone
Call one time only, that's it
I'm gonna break my telephone on the ground
So I don't drunk dial that bitch

There's a black raincloud floatin in my head
I always lose at the game of love
I gotta cleanse this nightmare out my system
Somebody wake me up
I'm gonna pop me a pill, gonna die for the girl that'll let me die for her
Cause my ex girl wanna ask me why I feel so strongly like I'm sure
C'mon

Hook

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LIFE CYCLE OF BLACK WIDOW SPIDER

Black widow mating occurs in springtime into early summer. In some cases, black widow females consume males after mating, feeding on them as sources of nutrients needed for egg fertilization. Female black widow spiders can produce several egg sacs in summer months. These sacs are tightly woven, silken cups and are protected fiercely by the female until they hatch.

Egg sacs are white, tan or gray in color and have a paper-like texture. They may be pear-shaped or globular. Each egg sac contains hundreds of eggs, from which hundreds of spiderlings emerge. However, only a handful of these young survive, as black widows are cannibalistic during the early stages of their lives.

Surviving spiderlings undergo molting stages known as instars. Many spiderlings overwinter as immatures, and then they mature fully the following spring. Although the expected lifespan of black widow spiders is one year, some specimens have been known to live up three years.

BLACK WIDOW SPIDER EGGS

Black widow spider eggs can be found in dark crevices beneath stones and in natural debris such as woodpiles. Barns and other secondary buildings are likely to host these spiders, as well. Black widow spider eggs may also be deposited within neglected materials or animal and rodent nests.

A female black widow spider is capable of accumulating and storing enough sperm within one mating session to last throughout her lifetime. Black widow spider eggs are laid onto small, silken webs shaped like cups. Females seal these cups with more silk, forming egg sacs or cases. These egg sacs are pale gray-white in color and measure 12 to 15 mm in diameter. Each egg sac contains hundreds of eggs and is guarded carefully by the female. Black widow spiderlings, also known as juveniles, emerge within approximately one month.

BABY BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS

After mating, a female black widow produces an egg sac which can contain hundreds of eggs. Females then guard these sacs for 8 to 30 days, until spiderlings hatch.

Spiderlings are white and orange in color and resemble adult black widow males. Females turn black as they grow older.

Black widow spiderlings are cannibalistic and consume other spiderlings from their brood for nutrients. Surviving hatchlings leave the web within a few days, at which point they experience ballooning. During the ballooning process, black widow spiderlings release strands of silk into the air and are carried to new locations. Black widow spiderlings then begin to spin their own webs and capture their own food.

EVOLUTION OF A BLACK WIDOW SPIDER

Evolution through natural selection is the process where advantageous traits and mutations allow an organism to survive and reproduce better than other organisms with less advantageous traits. The beneficial traits are passed on to their offspring when the parents procreate. The black widow spider, like other organisms, is subject to this process. Many aspects of the current black widow are a result of the pressures of evolution. An example of evolution with black widows is seen with their red hourglass marking. Red is considered a warning coloration in nature. It indicates this organism is toxic or potentially harmful. By proudly displaying this marking, it warns predators to not eat it. Black widow spiders with this marking would less likely be eaten and would survive to reproduce, thus leading to their being more successful. Over time this trait became widespread and part of what we know as the black widow.

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