Insect Order (Araneae)
ARANEAE (SPIDERS)
Araneae, comprising spiders, are one of the most intimidating orders of insects to the casual observer. This predatory group is made up of roughly 3,400 species in the United States and Canada. Some are webspinners while others are not, and some are completely harmless (and beneficial) while others are not. Classic examples of spiders include garden-loving Orb Weavers, the common House Spider, the identifiable Black Widow, the mighty Wolf Spider, and the venomous Brown Recluse. Eight legs typically differentiate Araneae insects from other orders.
Taxonomy
Other Names: "Southern Black Widow"
The Taxonomic Breakdown is the scientific way to categorize a partocular insect species from its largest group (Animalia) to its smallest (variable). The Genus and Species categorizations taken together make up the species' scientific name shown above, in this case Latrodectus mactans.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Theridiidae
Genus: Latrodectus
Species: mactans
Characteristics
Abdomen: Has a noticeably large / oversized abdomen.
Biting: This insect is known to bite. Exercise caution.
Caution: Caution should be exercised around this insect.
Harmful: Known to be harmful in one way or another.
Eight-Legged: Eight legs are common to this insect.
Small / Tiny: Noticeably small to the naked eye.
Venomous: Known to be venomous to humans.
Webspinner: Known to spin its own web; resides in a web.
Description
The Black Widow Spider is also known by these other names:
Southern Black Widow
The Black Widow Spider has been identified by site users by the following descriptors:
small eight-legged black red abdomen web biting harmful venomous orange yellow white brown
Sighting Guide
The general likelihood of encountering this insect based on a given month of the year in the state of Tennessee. Generally, the best sighting months are June through August with peak occurring in July.
Size
Below is a representation of the 'smallest-small' and 'largest-large' sizes commonly associated with the Black Widow Spider. Due to monitor differences, sizes may not be exact on your particular screen. Conversions to millimeters are provided for convenience.
Lowest-Low:
0.12 inches
(3 mm)
Highest-High:
0.39 inches
(10 mm)
Identifying Colors
Below you will find the colors most commonly associated with the Black Widow Spider. Both Primary and Secondary colors are represented in the showcase. Due to monitor differences, colors may not be exact representations.
Tennessee County Reach
The Black Widow Spider can be found in the following Tennessee counties:
Anderson; Bedford; Benton; Bledsoe; Blount; Bradley; Campbell; Cannon; Carroll; Carter; Cheatham; Chester; Claiborne; Clay; Cocke; Coffee; Crockett; Cumberland; Davidson; De Kalb; Decatur; Dickson; Dyer; Fayette; Fentress; Franklin; Gibson; Giles; Grainger; Greene; Grundy; Hamblen; Hamilton; Hancock; Hardeman; Hardin; Hawkins; Haywood; Henderson; Henry; Hickman; Houston; Humphreys; Jackson; Jefferson; Johnson; Knox; Lake; Lauderdale; Lawrence; Lewis; Lincoln; Loudon; Macon; Madison; Marion; Marshall; Maury; McMinn; McNairy; Meigs; Monroe; Montgomery; Moore; Morgan; Obion; Overton; Perry; Pickett; Polk; Putnam; Rhea; Roane; Robertson; Rutherford; Scott; Sequatchie; Sevier; Shelby; Smith; Stewart; Sullivan; Sumner; Tipton; Trousdale; Unicoi; Union; Van Buren; Warren; Washington; Wayne; Weakley; White; Williamson; Wilson
Black Widow Spider Picture (1)
1 of 1
Image of an adult female Black Widow Spider.; Credit: Ken T.; Public Domain.
This image is original to
www.InsectIdentification.org; Used with Permission.
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