{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "black-widow",
  "name": "Black Widow",
  "scientificName": "Latrodectus mactans",
  "category": "Invertebrate",
  "summary": "The southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) is a venomous cobweb spider of warm United States regions, especially the South, recognised by a red hourglass on the female's underside. She builds irregular webs in dark corners and woodpiles, eats insects, and is listed Least Concern; bites need medical advice but deaths are rare with care.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Arthropoda",
    "class": "Arachnida",
    "order": "Araneae",
    "family": "Theridiidae",
    "genus": "Latrodectus"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.001,
    "lengthM": 0.04,
    "topSpeedKmh": 1,
    "lifespanYears": 3
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Latrodectus mactans"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore (insects)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Dark corners, woodpiles, and outbuildings"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "Around 3 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity)."
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "About 0.001 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary)."
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to roughly 1 km/h when moving at speed."
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Warm regions of the United States, especially the South, and into Mexico.",
    "continents": [
      "North America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/black-widow/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/black-widow/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}