What Latrodectus sp. is This?

[sloth]

Found at a family members house in Rancho Cucomonga, CA. What sp. is this? Definitely not L. geometricus. My guess is a juvenile Latrodectus hesperus

 

[The Snark]

Looks typical imm Hesperus to me. Getting close to maturity.

 

[sloth]

Looks typical imm Hesperus to me. Getting close to maturity.

Thanks for the response!

I thought is was hesperus, just wanted to make sure

 

[The Snark]

Vetter on the color issue: https://cisr.ucr.edu/identifying_brown_widow_spiders.html

 

[sloth]

Vetter on the color issue: https://cisr.ucr.edu/identifying_brown_widow_spiders.html

Thanks! I’ll make sure to use this for reference next time

 

[NYAN]

Looks typical imm Hesperus to me. Getting close to maturity.

It’s kind of far from maturity actually. I’d say 3 molts at least based on experience.

I’d say hesperus also.

 

[sloth]

It’s kind of far from maturity actually. I’d say 3 molts at least based on experience.

I’d say hesperus also.

Thanks!

 

[The Snark]

It’s kind of far from maturity actually. I’d say 3 molts at least based on experience.

Going to pick your brain here. The ones that were tan or brown with the custom paint job then turn black are usually about that far along?

 

[NYAN]

Going to pick your brain here. The ones that were tan or brown with the custom paint job then turn black are usually about that far along?

It can depend on the individual. In some case they will be mostly black around this stage, and in others they will be tan like this until 1-2 molts from maturity.

Generally, this is 3 molts or more from maturity when they look like this.

Next molt is should start to darken and lose the lighter colors.