Northern Black Widow

Description:

Females: The range of the L. variolus significantly overlaps the range of the L. mactans, but the female Northern Black Widow often can be distinguished from the female Southern Black Widow by the type of hourglass marking on the ventral portion of the abdomen. For the Northern Black Widow, the hourglass is distinct, but is broken (whereas the Southern Black Widow's hourglass is complete) and typically there is a row of red spots down the middle of the back and possibly some diagonal whitish bands on each side; the bands are typically observed on the younger, more juvenile widows.

Habitat:

The Northern Black Widow is typically considered an "East Coast" spider, it occurs from northern Florida to south-eastern Canada. This species is most common in the northern part of its range. Undisturbed woods, in stumps, or in stone walls.

Notes:

This spider is venomous and can harm people. However, the female injects such a small dose of venom that it rarely causes death. Reports indicate human mortality at well less than 1% from black widow spider bites. Read more at http://bugguide.net/node/view/26421.