SPIDERS! PART TWO: THE WIDOW SPIDERS
© Kathleen Newton
Almost all of us recognize the name and distinctive markings of the Black Widow spider. In the United States, there are five different species of Widow spiders:
THE SOUTHERN WIDOW (L. mactans): The most well-known of the Widow spiders, the Southern Widow is found throughout the Southeastern U.S., extending west to Texas and Oklahoma, and north to Southern New York. The Southern Widow is black with a red, rather boxy hourglass shape on its back.
THE WESTERN WIDOW (L. hesperus) is found throughout the Western U.S., extending north into Southwest Canada and south into Mexico. The Western Widow can be found as far east as Texas. The Western Widow's appearance resembles that of the Southern Widow, except the hourglass shape is rounded, and is divided into two separate and distinct marks.
THE NORTHERN WIDOW (L. variolus) inhabits the Eastern U.S., from Southeast Canada through New England, down to Northern Florida. The Northern Widow's hourglass is divided, as with the Western Widow, but the marks are somewhat elongated. The Northern Widow does not bite humans as often as some of the other species.
THE RED WIDOW (L. bishopi) is found only in central and Southern Florida. The most colorful of the genus, the Red Widow has red legs and a black body containing orange and white markings down its back and sides. The hourglass is a single elongated shape.
THE BROWN WIDOW (L. geometricus) is found only in Florida, and is an introduced species. Found in most tropical ports, it's no surprise the Brown Widow found its way to sunny Florida. The Brown Widow is usually brown or gray with white and black markings on its back and sides, and a typical hourglass shape on its back.
Bites inflicted by Widow spiders can be painful, or hardly noticed. Initially, a small area of redness can surround the bite site, but usually disappears within a few hours of the bite. A Widow bite itself does not cause illness; it is the venom injected into the victim that causes the illness known as LATRODECTISM.
Latrodectism is caused by a neurotoxin contained in Widow spider venom, and can cause severe muscle spasms and cramping. The cramping is usually noticed first in the large muscles of the legs and/or abdomen.
Other symptoms of latrodectism include:
-Nausea/Vomiting.
-Increased blood pressure.
-Extreme diaphoresis (sweating).
-Piloerection (hair standing on end-WOW!)
-Paralysis, seizures, and psychological changes (in severe cases).
Death caused by latrodectism is rare. The small percentage of deaths that do occur due to latrodectism usually occur in small children or elderly people; those whose immune systems are unable to cope with the amount of venom present.
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