ID#: 20853
Caption:
This photograph depicted a jet black female northern black widow spider, Latrodectus variolus, that was motionless on a branch, which was coated with what appeared to be fuzzy web material. Note the characteristic red-colored hourglass located on her inferior abdominal surface. What is important in this species, is that the hourglass is bisected, forming two triangles, their apices pointing towards each other. Though the L. variolus bite is poisonous, it only occurs infrequently, for its timidity forces it to flee from a threatening situation it perceives posed by humans.
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Content Provider(s): CDC/ M. Parsons
Creation Date: 1966
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