In the diverse world of arachnids, black widow spiders, scientifically categorized in the genus Latrodectus, stand out for their distinct appearance and the notorious potency of their venom.
But you could argue that the iconic black widow gets a bit of a bad rap.
(Credit: Mark Kostich/Shutterstock)
Mark Kostich/Shutterstock
Black widow spiders, known scientifically as Latrodectus, are instantly recognizable by their glossy black bodies and the iconic red hourglass marking on their abdomens (at least the females are). And they are big fans of warm climates.
More than 30 species of black widow spiders can be found spread across the globe, including throughout North America, South America, southern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
North America is home to three main species of black widow spider: The western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus) enjoys the Pacific coast and arid deserts; the northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus) lives in the northern U.S. and ...
