Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2157949
Southern Black Widow
Latrodectus mactansAlso known as Black Widow, Shoe-button Spider
Southern black widows construct irregular, tangled webs under debris, outdoor furniture, and dark crevices to snare crawling insects. Females display a glossy black body anchored by a vivid red hourglass marking on the underside of their bulbous abdomen. While reclusive and quick to retreat when disturbed, mothers fiercely guard their papery silk egg sacs throughout the warmer months.
VenomousNocturnalWeb-builder
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Crickets
- Beetles
- Cockroaches
Predators
- Blue Mud Dauber
- Alligator Lizard
- Centipede
ThreatsHabitat disruption, pesticides, and human eradication
HabitatsHardwood forests, fields, stone walls, sheds, and debris piles
Life span1–3 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilyTheridiidae
- GenusLatrodectus
- SpeciesLatrodectus mactans
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Delivers a potent neurotoxic bite when pinched; observe from a safe distance without touching.
- Why it is dangerous
- Injects alpha-latrotoxin venom through sharp fangs, causing severe muscle cramps, intense abdominal pain, and nausea.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a shiny, jet-black body with a distinctive crimson hourglass pattern on the lower abdomen.
- What to do
- Wear thick gloves when moving stacked lumber or outdoor debris, and back away if a spider retreats into its funnel.
Responsible observation
- Check blindly: Avoid placing bare hands under rocks, woodpiles, or dark garage shelves where webs hide.
- Lighting: Use a flashlight when exploring dark outdoor structures at night to spot silk strands.
- Safe distance: Observe web structures and hunting behavior without poking or disturbing the silk.
Mimic (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Luke Padon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Luke Padon · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Jesse Rorabaugh, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jesse Rorabaugh · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.