Black Widow molting

[Godsmack1934]

One of my black widows is molting and I cant tell how long it's been or if she's alive or not, is there anything I should do? She's a female northern black widow/southern black widow mix if that helps at all.

 

[Smotzer]

If it’s molting then leave it alone!

 

[Godsmack1934]

I just looked at her, and while she was molting her abdomen ruptured and she lost part of her head. Really upsetting, she was my favorite widow.

 

[darkness975]

Bummer. It happens. Make sure they're well hydrated.

 

[TheWidowsPeak]

I've lost a few during molts, it is just a thing that happens sometimes, don't beat yourself up over it.

 

[Godsmack1934]

I've lost a few during molts, it is just a thing that happens sometimes, don't beat yourself up over it.

Yea, I just kinda wish she'd of lived so I can see how she matured as a southern and northern mix.

 

[TheWidowsPeak]

I'm curious to how you know she was a hybrid? I live in the overlapping territory of both species and as far as I know I've never seen anything that I would say is a hybrid between the two. It's been a long time ago but I think I remember reading that they attempted this cross in a lab and couldn't get the male Interested at all, but that may have been Hesperus

 

[Godsmack1934]

I'm curious to how you know she was a hybrid? I live in the overlapping territory of both species and as far as I know I've never seen anything that I would say is a hybrid between the two. It's been a long time ago but I think I remember reading that they attempted this cross in a lab and couldn't get the male Interested at all, but that may have been Hesperus

I'm not very sure either, maybe that's why she died so early, because rhe genetics didn't mix too well