# Black Widow (*Latrodectus mactans*)

> 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.

- **Category:** Invertebrate
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Warm regions of the United States, especially the South, and into Mexico.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/black-widow/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Arachnida
- **Order:** Araneae
- **Family:** Theridiidae
- **Genus:** Latrodectus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Latrodectus mactans |
| Diet | Carnivore (insects) |
| Habitat | Dark corners, woodpiles, and outbuildings |
| Lifespan | Around 3 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 0.001 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 1 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Hourglass in a tangled web

Mature females are glossy black with the diagnostic red hourglass; males are smaller and lighter-marked. Webs are messy, three-dimensional snares in sheltered voids rather than neat orbs.

## Insects in the tangle

Prey includes beetles, cockroaches, flies, and other arthropods that blunder into the web. The spider wraps victims in silk before delivering a venomous bite.

## Warm US outbuildings

Dark corners, woodpiles, utility cupboards, and outbuildings across warm parts of the United States, especially the South, and into Mexico. Across its range it is tied to dark corners, woodpiles, and outbuildings, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Medical significance, not aggression

Least Concern and not aggressive; bites usually occur when a spider is pressed against skin. Latrotoxin can cause severe pain and systemic symptoms — seek medical care, especially for children and older adults.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does a black widow bite feel like?

Often sharp pain at the site followed by muscle cramps and systemic symptoms; get medical advice promptly.

### Do male black widows have an hourglass?

Males are smaller with different markings; the classic red hourglass is typical of mature females.

### Are black widows aggressive?

No — they bite defensively when pinned or threatened, not when merely nearby.

### Where do black widows build webs?

Sheltered, dark places — woodpiles, sheds, crawl spaces, and cluttered outdoor corners.

### Is black widow venom always fatal?

No. Modern medical care makes deaths rare in healthy adults, though bites are serious and need treatment.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/black-widow/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.