Is this a black widow?

[spyd3r1]

Located in central arkansas

 

[Venom]

Yes! That is absolutely a black widow spider. Probably the L. mactans "southern widow spider."

 

[spyd3r1]

Cool i have alot better pic of it in tarantula id http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/gallery/showimage.php?i=17053&c=11

 

[spyd3r1]

and i thought they were alot smaller than that.

 

[hassman789]

And it looks like theres going to be ALOT more of em! scarrrrrrrrrryyy

 

[Widowman10]

yep, venom is right, female L. mactans.

and they do get big, but they are, on average, the smallest BW in NA.

 

[spyd3r1]

This one seems to be 2" at least but for some reason i thought they were about the size of a quarter. Anyways they are everywhere around here.

 

[Widowman10]

i would like to see a 2" mactans. southern variolus will get that size, and some monster freak hesperus, but i've yet to see a 2" mac.

 

[codykrr]

can you post a picture of the habitat if possible.

i have only found this 1 time outside. it was next to a potra pottie

i have seen them in my garage though. i am just curious as the what their natural environment looks like

 

[spyd3r1]

It was in the front of my car lot. Underneath a concrete ledge above a concrete sidewalk.

 

[spyd3r1]

I am in the outskirts of our biggest city. There is a small patch of woods maybe an acre or so right behind the carlot but this spider was surrounded by concrete about 50 yards from the nearest trees or bushes.

 

[spyd3r1]

i would like to see a 2" mactans. southern variolus will get that size, and some monster freak hesperus, but i've yet to see a 2" mac.

Thats not official man. It was def bigger than a quarter which was bigger than i thought they were. But anyways it was pretty big.

 

[spyd3r1]

Here is some pics of the location.

 

[spyd3r1]

She was right under the ledge beneath the better buisness bureau sign. i have since moved her to the back of the fence by the trees because my 2 nephews come up to the car lot often and i did not want one of them to get bit.

 

[jumpingspider66]

Yeah good idea!

 

[codykrr]

well, either way nice find.:clap:

Seems these are more common near human structures than in the woods. i never see them in the woods, just in my garage.

thanks for sharing

 

[Widowman10]

looks like great habitat for them! bet if you went poking around a little more, you'd find plenty!