Latrodectus hesperus molt?

[Anubis77]

I had my female L. hesperus molt a few weeks back. She seems to be adult now and I am guessing that was her last molt. She's WC so I wouldn't know how many times she has molted before. Are there any ways to guess this? And how large is the abdomen supposed to be compared to the cephalothorax?

 

[JPD]

Size can vary but I have found that most adult, female, L.hesperus have abdomens about the size of a small grape. Presence of juvenille markings can also help distinguish between an adult and a younger specimen.