Black Widow spiders are some of the most recognized and feared spiders in the world. They belong to the Latrodectus genus, known for their shiny black bodies and potent venom. While many people think of just one type, there are actually several different Black Widow spiders found across different regions.
Each has its own unique markings, habitat preferences, and behaviors. Here we shared seven common types of Black Widow spiders, helping you identify and understand them more easily.
1. Southern Black Widow Spider
The Southern Black Widow Spider is one of the most famous spiders in North America. It belongs to the Latrodectus group, known as Black Widow spiders. This spider is easily recognized by its shiny black body and red hourglass mark. Although it has strong venom, bites are rarely deadly today because of quick medical care. The Southern Black Widow usually hides in dark, sheltered places and builds messy webs close to the ground.
Identification
- Glossy black body
- Bright red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen
- Female is larger, about 1.5 inches including legs
- Male is smaller, lighter in color, sometimes with pale spots
- Abdomen is round and smooth
- Eight thin, long legs
Habitat
The Southern Black Widow Spider likes warm, dark, and quiet areas. It is often found under rocks, woodpiles, and in outdoor sheds. Sometimes they live in basements, garages, and other hidden places around homes. Their webs are messy and usually built close to the ground where they can catch insects easily.
Behavior
Southern Black Widows are shy and not aggressive. They prefer to hide and avoid human contact. Females mostly stay on their webs and wait for prey to get trapped. Males wander more during the mating season. These spiders usually bite only if they feel trapped or threatened.
Lifespan and Lifecycle
The female Southern Black Widow lives much longer than the male. Females can survive up to 1 to 3 years, while males usually live only a few months. After mating, females lay hundreds of eggs in silken sacs. The spiderlings hatch within a few weeks and move away by floating on silk threads to find their own homes. Some females can produce several egg sacs during their lifetime, helping the population grow fast.
2. Northern Black Widow Spider
The Northern Black Widow Spider is another member of the Latrodectus group, known for their strong venom and shiny black bodies. It looks similar to the Southern Black Widow but has a few important differences. The Northern Black Widow usually has a broken or divided red hourglass mark instead of a complete one. This spider is found mostly in the northeastern United States and parts of Canada. It prefers forests, woodpiles, and quiet outdoor spaces.
Identification
- Glossy black body
- Broken or separated red hourglass marking under the abdomen
- Female is larger, about 1.5 inches including legs
- Male is smaller, lighter brown, and may have white markings
- Abdomen is round and slightly less shiny than southern species
- Eight slender legs
Habitat
Northern Black Widow Spiders live in cool, dark, and protected areas. They are often found in forests, hollow tree stumps, piles of brush, and sheds. Unlike the southern type, they sometimes build their webs a little higher above ground. Their webs are irregular and sticky, helping them trap small insects easily.
Behavior
Northern Black Widows are also shy and not aggressive unless disturbed. Females stay hidden in their webs most of the time. They rarely move unless needed. Males move more often, especially during the mating season. Bites only happen when the spider is accidentally pressed or feels trapped.
Lifespan and Lifecycle
The Northern Black Widow female can live for 1 to 3 years. Males have a much shorter life, surviving only a few months after reaching adulthood. After mating, females lay eggs in silky sacs. Each sac can hold hundreds of eggs. Spiderlings hatch in about 20–30 days and quickly spread out to build their own webs. Females usually produce several egg sacs throughout their lives.
3. Western Black Widow Spider
The Western Black Widow Spider is a well-known member of the Latrodectus group. It is mainly found in the western parts of the United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. Like its relatives, it has a shiny black body and a red hourglass mark, but it tends to be a little larger and darker than other black widows. It loves dry climates and often lives close to humans, hiding in garages, sheds, and outdoor furniture.
Identification
- Shiny black body
- Full, bright red hourglass marking underneath the abdomen
- Female is large, up to 1.5 inches including legs
- Male is much smaller, light brown with tiny red or pink markings
- Abdomen is round and slightly bigger than other black widow species
- Eight long, thin legs
Habitat
Western Black Widow Spiders prefer warm, dry, and sheltered places. They are often found in deserts, gardens, basements, barns, and outdoor storage areas. Their webs are messy and made close to the ground. They like to hide in dark corners where they are protected from sunlight and predators.
Behavior
Western Black Widows are not aggressive and usually stay hidden. Females remain near their webs, waiting for insects to get trapped. Males are active only when searching for a mate. These spiders bite only when they feel threatened or trapped. They prefer running away if disturbed.
Lifespan and Lifecycle
The female Western Black Widow can live between 1 and 3 years, while males live only a few months. After mating, females lay several silk egg sacs, each containing hundreds of eggs. The spiderlings hatch in about three weeks. Once they hatch, young spiders drift away on the wind using silk threads to find a new home.
4. European Black Widow Spider
The European Black Widow Spider is a striking member of the Latrodectus group, often called the Mediterranean Black Widow. It is mainly found in southern Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa. Unlike its American cousins, this spider usually has several red or orange spots on its black body instead of a simple hourglass shape. Although its venom is powerful, bites are rare because the spider is shy and stays hidden most of the time.
Identification
- Shiny black body
- 10 to 13 red or orange spots on the back
- Female is medium-sized, about 1 inch including legs
- Male is smaller and lighter, with fewer markings
- Round abdomen with glossy appearance
- Eight thin, long legs
Habitat
European Black Widow Spiders prefer dry and warm areas. They are often found in fields, rocky hills, gardens, and abandoned buildings. They like to hide under stones, inside woodpiles, and in dark corners where they can safely spin their tangled webs.
Behavior
The European Black Widow is shy and prefers to avoid human contact. Females stay near their webs and wait for insects to get trapped. Males are more active during mating season. These spiders are not aggressive and bite only if they feel extremely threatened or cornered.
Lifespan and Lifecycle
Females of the European Black Widow can live up to 1 to 2 years, while males usually survive only a few months. After mating, females create egg sacs in protected areas of their webs. Each sac can contain hundreds of eggs. Spiderlings hatch after two to three weeks and slowly disperse to find their own territory.
5. Redback Spider
The Redback Spider is a famous member of the Latrodectus group and is often called Australia’s version of the Black Widow. It is mainly found throughout Australia but has also spread to parts of Southeast Asia and New Zealand. The Redback is easy to recognize because of the bright red or orange stripe running down the top of its shiny black body. Although its venom is strong, bites are treatable today with antivenom.
Identification
- Glossy black body
- Bright red or orange stripe on the upper side of the abdomen
- Female is larger, about 1.5 inches including legs
- Male is much smaller, light brown with pale markings
- Rounded and smooth abdomen
- Eight thin, long legs
Habitat
Redback Spiders prefer warm and dry places. They are commonly found around human homes, in sheds, garages, mailboxes, outdoor toilets, and under rocks. They build messy webs close to the ground where they can hide and easily catch insects.
Behavior
Redback Spiders are not aggressive unless disturbed. Females usually stay close to their webs, waiting for prey. Males are more active when searching for females. If a Redback feels threatened, it may bite in self-defense. They generally prefer to stay hidden and avoid confrontation.
Lifespan and Lifecycle
Female Redback Spiders can live for 1 to 3 years, while males have a short life of only a few months. Females lay several egg sacs during their lifetime, each holding up to 250 eggs. Spiderlings hatch in about 2 to 4 weeks. Young spiders use silk threads to float away and find new places to live.
6. Katipo Spider
The Katipo Spider is a rare member of the Latrodectus group, closely related to the Redback Spider. It is native to New Zealand and is now considered an endangered species due to habitat loss. The Katipo Spider is easily recognized by its shiny black body, a bright red stripe on its back, and often a white border around the stripe. Although it has strong venom, bites are extremely rare because the Katipo prefers to stay hidden.
Identification
- Glossy black body
- Bright red stripe on top of the abdomen
- Often a thin white border around the red stripe
- Female is about 1 inch including legs
- Male is much smaller and lighter colored
- Eight long, thin legs
Habitat
Katipo Spiders live mainly along the sandy beaches and dunes of New Zealand. They build their webs close to the ground, hidden among grasses and driftwood. They prefer undisturbed areas where there is little human activity.
Behavior
Katipo Spiders are very shy and avoid human contact. Females stay hidden in their webs, waiting for insects to wander into the sticky threads. Males move around more during the mating season. They only bite if directly provoked or pressed against the skin.
Lifespan and Lifecycle
Female Katipo Spiders can live up to 2 to 3 years, while males live only a few months. After mating, the female produces silk egg sacs, each containing many eggs. Spiderlings hatch after about one month and slowly spread out to start their own webs. Due to habitat loss, finding a Katipo Spider is becoming very rare.
7. Brown Widow Spider
The Brown Widow Spider is a close relative of the Black Widow group under the Latrodectus genus. Unlike its famous cousins, the Brown Widow is lighter in color and less aggressive. It has spread widely around the world, including the United States, Africa, Asia, and South America. The Brown Widow is easy to recognize by its tan or light brown body and the orange or yellow hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen.
Identification
- Light brown or tan body
- Orange or yellow hourglass marking under the abdomen
- Female is medium-sized, about 1 to 1.5 inches including legs
- Male is much smaller and lighter
- Abdomen has black and white patterns on top
- Eight thin, long legs
Habitat
Brown Widow Spiders prefer urban areas and man-made structures. They are commonly found in fences, under outdoor furniture, around mailboxes, and in gardens. They build their messy, tangled webs in protected areas that are shaded and quiet.
Behavior
Brown Widow Spiders are less aggressive than other black widows. They stay hidden in their webs and do not bite unless forced to defend themselves. Females tend to remain stationary in their webs, while males move around more, especially during the mating season.
Lifespan and Lifecycle
Female Brown Widows can live from 1 to 2 years, and males live only a few months. After mating, females lay several egg sacs, often attached to hidden parts of the web. Each sac can produce hundreds of spiderlings. Spiderlings hatch within a few weeks and spread out by floating on silk threads to find new places.
FAQ
How poisonous is a black widow?
Black Widow venom is very strong and contains a powerful neurotoxin. It can cause pain, muscle cramps, sweating, and nausea. However, most healthy adults recover with proper treatment, and deaths are extremely rare today.
What happens if you get bitten by a black widow?
If bitten, you might feel a sharp pain or a small prick at first. Symptoms can include muscle pain, stomach cramps, sweating, and weakness. It is important to seek medical help quickly, especially for children, elderly people, or those with health conditions.
What kills black widow instantly?
Insecticides designed for spiders, such as sprays containing pyrethroids, can kill Black Widow spiders instantly. However, it is safer to contact a pest control expert if you find multiple spiders around your home.
Should I be worried if I see a black widow?
You should be cautious but not panic. Black Widows are shy and will not chase or attack people. If you spot one, avoid touching it, and carefully remove it or call a pest control professional to handle it safel
