Black Widow Non Chron Report
Black widow spiders are arachnids, who are known for the females unique appearance and tendency to eat their mates. They are considered to be the most venomous spiders in North America, however their bite is rarely fatal to humans.
What do Black Widows look like?
Male and female black widows look different. The female are the most distinctive with shiny, black bodies with a red hour-glass shaped mark on their underside. The hour-glass can also be, on occasion, an orange-yellow colour. The females are about 1.5inches long, where as the males are about half this size. Males are lighter in colour, with red or pink spots on their backs.
Where do Black Widows live?
Black widows are found in hot countries thought the world, including the United States, southern Europe and Asia, Australia, Africa and much of South America. They may be found in dark, dry shelters such as barns, garages, basements, outdoor toilets, rat holes, bins and bushes.
What do Black Widows eat?
Like many spiders, the black widow spider eats other spiders and insects that get caught in their webs. The female spider hangs upside down from her web as she waits for her prey. This pose shows off her bright markings which are a visible warning to potential predators that she is toxic. The markings, however, do not appear to fright off the prey. That is likely due to differences in how birds and insects perceive colour. Black widows eat flies, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars. After the prey is ensnared in the web, the black widow uses its comb feet to wrap the prey in silk. Then the black widow punctures its prey with its fangs and injects a toxin into the creature and then sucks up its bodily fluid.
What do Black Widows look like?
Male and female black widows look different. The female are the most distinctive with shiny, black bodies with a red hour-glass shaped mark on their underside. The hour-glass can also be, on occasion, an orange-yellow colour. The females are about 1.5inches long, where as the males are about half this size. Males are lighter in colour, with red or pink spots on their backs.
Where do Black Widows live?
Black widows are found in hot countries thought the world, including the United States, southern Europe and Asia, Australia, Africa and much of South America. They may be found in dark, dry shelters such as barns, garages, basements, outdoor toilets, rat holes, bins and bushes.
What do Black Widows eat?
Like many spiders, the black widow spider eats other spiders and insects that get caught in their webs. The female spider hangs upside down from her web as she waits for her prey. This pose shows off her bright markings which are a visible warning to potential predators that she is toxic. The markings, however, do not appear to fright off the prey. That is likely due to differences in how birds and insects perceive colour. Black widows eat flies, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars. After the prey is ensnared in the web, the black widow uses its comb feet to wrap the prey in silk. Then the black widow punctures its prey with its fangs and injects a toxin into the creature and then sucks up its bodily fluid.