How Do You Identify Black Widow Spiders?
Black widow spiders are the hallmark of horror movies. As if spiders in general aren’t bad enough, people tend to recoil in fear when they encounter a spider that is not only large but also poisonous. Read on to find out how to identify the black widow spider. In the adult female black widow (the hamrful one), you will see an abdomen that is pure black and shiny. Also on the abdomen, typically you will find an hourglass shape composed of two red triangles. The hourglass can also be yellow or orange. The adult female is 1/2 inch long, or 1.5 inches long when the legs are spread. The adult male, which is not poisonous, is only half the size of the female. The body is smaller and the legs are longer. The male does not have the hourglass shape on its abdomen. Instead, you will see red spots and white lines.
