Black widow spider

Black widow spider is one of several spiders in the genus Latrodectus. The name of the group refers to the tendency of the females of some species to devour the male after copulation.

Spiders within the group include:

• Western black widow or Latrodectus hesperus
• Southern black widow or Latrodectus mactans
• Northern black widow or Latrodectus variolus
• Mediterranean black widow, or European black widow, or Latrodectus tredecimguttatus
• Redback spider or black widow, Latrodectus hasselti
• Katipo or black widow, Latrodectus katipo

See also

• False black widow, spiders of the genus Steatoda, often mistaken for widow spiders
• Black Widow (disambiguation)

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