black widow

[Mattlovesspiders]

i hope this is the right thread...

recently acquired a beautiful female black widow who came into my work on some grapes from california!

I was going to keep her as a pet but the family gave me a resounding no..

does anyone know any place in central NY where i could bring her?

Id rather see her to a good home vs letting her go in the cold!

thanks!

 

[Jadestone]

Do you have any pictures of her? I am sure there are some in your area who would love to add a widow to their collection. If all else fails, you could see if someone at your work could hold on to her.

 

[Velarico82]

HI! I am new here and also just adopted two black widows while at work. One who I named Scarlet was sprayed with bug spray but survived!! But changed color (brown) She is my little trooper. Then came along Charlotte, who is a healthy beast! She recently devoured an adult cricket and is claiming her territory in the house! Does anyone know if two can live together? I am completely new to this! lol Thanks in advance!

 

[dangerforceidle]

Id rather see her to a good home vs letting her go in the cold!

I hope you're able to find someone to take her, but please don't let her go if you can't. There are actually 3 distinct species of black widow in the USA, and the ones found in California (Western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus) are not the same as the ones found in NY state (Northern black widow, L. variolus, and Southern black widow, L. mactans, with a bias to the Northern variant). If she had mated prior to the grapes being harvested, she could produce several egg sacs and hundreds or thousands of offspring.

We need to be mindful of aiding the spread of species where they aren't normally present.

 

[The Snark]

who came into my work on some grapes from california!

Which are absolutely soaked in pesticides often within days of picking.

One who I named Scarlet was sprayed with bug spray but survived!!

Typical of many species of spiders. Extremely resistant to pesticides. The pest companies come in and spray your entire house, turning it into a toxic waste disposal ground, but the spiders present just shrug.

 

[NYAN]

Do not release it. Latrodectus hesperus is not native to your state. If it is an adult female, it may lay an egg sac; thus there is opportunity for an invasive population to set up.

Does anyone know if two can live together? I am completely new to this! lol Thanks in advance!

No. The only way this would work is if you gave them a huge area to live in.

 

[Jadestone]

HI! I am new here and also just adopted two black widows while at work. One who I named Scarlet was sprayed with bug spray but survived!! But changed color (brown)

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure she is a Brown Widow.

 

[The Snark]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure she is a Brown Widow.

Came from California? Typical colorations of an immature L Hesperus:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/845731
https://bugguide.net/node/view/668345

L Geometricus (Brown Widow)

 

[Jadestone]

No, I meant Velarico's spider.

 

[NYAN]

No, I meant Velarico's spider.

Definitely not geometricus. One may be mactans even given the location and the red dot on the spinnerets. I’d need to see the hourglass.

 

[The Snark]

The medial stripe of that one is very typical of immature Hesperus. But could be Variolus. I'll also positively identify the other as theridiidae.

 

[aaarg]

Which are absolutely soaked in pesticides often within days of picking.

not if they're organic!

i work in produce and had a customer point out some mold in a bag of grapes. i said 'thanks - oh, that's not mold, it's silk - ah, a sac spider - and eggs!' she was... not impressed for some reason. pft buzz off.

 

[The Snark]

not if they're organic!

Better read this: http://www.worldoffinewine.com/news/the-great-organic-grape-scam-4704802

I'm trying to find a study a university pulled off where they tweaked and zorped the system and got an assortment of things certified organic. I remember produce dipped in AVgas and diesel oil were both certified.