Black Widow

Southern Black Widow Spider, Latrodectus mactans

The Southern black widow spider, sometimes considered the original black widow, is the most common of the native widow spiders and can be found throughout parts of Canada, the east coast, the Great Plains, and within all four deserts of the American southwest. Its scientific name, Latrodectus mactans, is a mixture of Greek and Latin meaning "murderous biting robber." Common belief of is that widow spiders kill and consume their mate following copulation; however, the practice was mainly observed in a crowded laboratory setting. The current thought is sexual cannibalism is the male's inability to escape, not the female's interest in cannibalism. As cobweb spiders, they construct irregular structures in dark, undisturbed areas near the ground. For that reason, care must be taken when working in dark areas that have been undisturbed for some time. While all spiders produce venom, few have the dose or means to be considered dangerous like the female black widow. Worldwide, only three moralities have been attributed to widow spider bites, and no known cases of death by envenomation by a widow species within the US has been reported. Envenomation often causes sharp muscular pain anywhere from 15 minutes to hours after the bite depending on bite sight. Severity and radiation of significant pain increases for several hours before gradually passing off in two to three days. Although antivenin is available as treatment, acute hypersensitivity reactions are a concern for many victims. If antivenin is not given or unavailable, relief for pain and muscle cramping is given until symptoms pass.

Edit: For more information on the venom, antivenin, and how to obtain venom to make antivenin, please check out my Google+ post which goes into further details.