Birds Make Good Neighbors

An immature black widow spider has taken up resident on Robert and my cactus in the front yard. I’m thinking it’s a male and hoping there aren’t more nearby. I haven’t had the heart to kill it, since widow spiders are not aggressive (in fact I hate to kill any bug, insect, etc., so I’ll just leave it be).

Click images to enlarge:

(c) BMGN 2009

The immature stages of both sexes and adult male widow spiders may have many red or red-orange or yellow spots and strips on the top of their abdomen. Immature females can be colored gray or pale brown, with numerous banding patterns. Darker coloration increases as they get older. The presence of an hourglass pattern on the underside of the abdomen occurs throughout their development.

(c) BMGN 2009

Male widow spiders are much smaller (about 1/4 size) than the females. They usually are not black in overall color, instead appear light brown or gray and banded. Male widows may have an hourglass pattern, but coloration often is more orange and sometimes yellow. When mature, they have large knob-like structures originating from the head. They are similar in appearance to immature females.

(c) BMGN 2009

Widow spiders build loose and irregular mesh-type webs (which are extremely strong), often on plants, in loose stone or wood piles, or in the corners of rooms, garages or outbuildings. They do not produce the symmetrical web typical of orb weaving spiders or the distinctive funnel pattern web of the funnel weaver spiders.

For more information on the black widow, visit Desert USA. And be kind to spiders.