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BLACK WIDOW MALE BLACK WIDOW BLACK WIDOW MALE BLACK WIDOW
FEMALE FEMALE

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
1.Antenna- none 6.Cephalothorax BLACK WIDOW 1.Antenna- none 6.Cephalothorax BLACK WIDOW
2.Eyes- 8 7.Petiole- none 4 2.Eyes- 8 7.Petiole- none 4
3.Prosoma- Chelicera (fangs) 8.Abdomen- oval shape 6 3.Prosoma- Chelicera (fangs) 8.Abdomen- oval shape 6
4.Legs- 8 9.Color- female black male brown 3 4.Legs- 8 9.Color- female black male brown 3
5.Wings- none 10.Other- red hour glass on bottom of female 5.Wings- none 10.Other- red hour glass on bottom of female
Life Cycle 8 Life Cycle 8
Two to four hundred eggs are deposited in an egg sack of dirty cream Two to four hundred eggs are deposited in an egg sack of dirty cream
color. It takes from 10 days to a few weeks for the spiderlings to hatch. color. It takes from 10 days to a few weeks for the spiderlings to hatch.
Development from egg to adult may take from two and one-half months Development from egg to adult may take from two and one-half months
to nearly eleven months. A female may live for one or more years after to nearly eleven months. A female may live for one or more years after
maturity. maturity.
Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
BLACK WIDOW Actual size 1/2” body BLACK WIDOW Actual size 1/2” body
The female black widow is glossy black with a globe-like abdomen. She has a deep red hour- The female black widow is glossy black with a globe-like abdomen. She has a deep red hour-
glass marking on her stomach. The web of a black widow is irregular with no distinct pattern. It glass marking on her stomach. The web of a black widow is irregular with no distinct pattern. It
is very strong in comparison to most spider webs. The name is because she usually eats the is very strong in comparison to most spider webs. The name is because she usually eats the
male after they mate. The newly-hatched spiderlings are cannibalistic and will eat each other so male after they mate. The newly-hatched spiderlings are cannibalistic and will eat each other so
usually less than one hundred actually survive. They climb to a high place, spin a piece of web, usually less than one hundred actually survive. They climb to a high place, spin a piece of web,
throw it out in the breeze and float away (this is called ballooning). throw it out in the breeze and float away (this is called ballooning).

GENERAL GENERAL
All spiders are carnivorous and with few exceptions have poison glands. They have spinnerets All spiders are carnivorous and with few exceptions have poison glands. They have spinnerets
used for making webs to snare their prey, but some actually roam around hunting for victims. used for making webs to snare their prey, but some actually roam around hunting for victims.
Webs may be used to make homes, lacing leaves or grass together, and they also may be used Webs may be used to make homes, lacing leaves or grass together, and they also may be used
to bind their catch. The Jumping Spider attaches a strand just before jumping--a type of life- to bind their catch. The Jumping Spider attaches a strand just before jumping--a type of life-
line so as not to jump too far into a place where it may have difficulty in getting out. Eggs are line so as not to jump too far into a place where it may have difficulty in getting out. Eggs are
encased in webbing, usually in a sac, which is then hidden under bark or rocks, kept in a nest, encased in webbing, usually in a sac, which is then hidden under bark or rocks, kept in a nest,
fastened in the snare web, or carried around (like the Wolf Spider). Some never even see their fastened in the snare web, or carried around (like the Wolf Spider). Some never even see their
offspring, some protect the eggs until they hatch, and the Wolf Spider even carries the young offspring, some protect the eggs until they hatch, and the Wolf Spider even carries the young
around until they can hunt on their own. Spiders feed by removing internal liquid contents of around until they can hunt on their own. Spiders feed by removing internal liquid contents of
their prey with their chelicera (fangs). their prey with their chelicera (fangs).

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