Latrodectus hesperus odd behavior - seems suddenly ill

[The Grim Keeper]

Hi folks, new member here. I've kept an adult female Western Black Widow (Grim) for almost seven months. She has always been a solid hunter and quite predictable in her behavior, but for the last few days, she has not had much interest in food (various insects and moths) introduced to her enclosure, although she had eaten a couple insects in the last week. Yesterday, she began to spin a new type of web that I have not seen before, like a concentrated little fluffy patch near the top of the jar, spinning rapidly in circles as it was made. This was not at all like the beginning of an egg sac, which she has done three times since I captured her in the wild. This morning, she did a new thing - she hid between a couple rocks on the bottom of the jar and pulled her legs in close, like she is in distress. I just added a little water to the bottom of the enclosure in case dehydration was the issue (I don't think that it is, because she has never required water before, and she has recently fed). The pictures attached show Grim months ago, resting during the battle with a potato bug, and tonight, in this odd position on the bottom of the jar. She has not been in her web all day. Completely new behavior. Any insights are greatly appreciated!

 

[The Snark]

Well, un-expert here. but that is a death curl. I assume you have no idea how old she was when you got her but she was an adult.

 

[The Grim Keeper]

Well, un-expert here. but that is a death curl. I assume you have no idea how old she was when you got her but she was an adult.

Thanks - you're probably right, will see in the morning if she is still in that ball. I'd love to know what the odd fluffy web spinning behavior was all about. Such an interesting thing she did. And yes, no idea how old she was, but based on the growth rate of a much smaller female widow I collected a few days before her, after seven months she is still less than half the size of this one, so I assume she was rather old.

I've only seen a few real widows outside, among the very many false widows.

 

[The Snark]

@The Grim Keeper Basic bio 101. Lower level animals don't have sleep cycles. Only periods of dormancy. So they don't pass away peacefully in their sleep. The autonomic systems, ran by the central nervous system, shut down randomly. So things that utilize these automatic systems without a governing brain in operation continue to function for various periods of time after the animal is deceased. Web spinning being one of these functions.
Sorry for the loss. Please don't let this deter you from your interest in these wonderful amazing animals.

 

[darkness975]

Hi folks, new member here. I've kept an adult female Western Black Widow (Grim) for almost seven months. She has always been a solid hunter and quite predictable in her behavior, but for the last few days, she has not had much interest in food (various insects and moths) introduced to her enclosure, although she had eaten a couple insects in the last week. Yesterday, she began to spin a new type of web that I have not seen before, like a concentrated little fluffy patch near the top of the jar, spinning rapidly in circles as it was made. This was not at all like the beginning of an egg sac, which she has done three times since I captured her in the wild. This morning, she did a new thing - she hid between a couple rocks on the bottom of the jar and pulled her legs in close, like she is in distress. I just added a little water to the bottom of the enclosure in case dehydration was the issue (I don't think that it is, because she has never required water before, and she has recently fed). The pictures attached show Grim months ago, resting during the battle with a potato bug, and tonight, in this odd position on the bottom of the jar. She has not been in her web all day. Completely new behavior. Any insights are greatly appreciated!

As other have said it's unfortunately reached the end of its life cycle.

 

[HeartBum]

Thank you for giving her a lovely life.