Latrodectus hesperus rescue

[Kibosh]

Caught this little fella in the doorway of my apartment this morning. Dangerous place for it to be as my apartment walkway has a pretty high level of traffic and every time I opened my door it was demolishing it's web.

Debating releaseing it out in the desert on my next day off or giving it a cozy cricket filled life in my arachnid collection. Not like they are endangered, actually quite abundant here. If so it will definitely be put into a larger jar. Very beautiful little spider. Sorry my photo taking ability is so terrible.

 

[The Snark]

Your call, but you got winter right around the corner and it facing months of torpor if it survives.

 

[Edan bandoot]

What's the size on that thing? I always pictures them as being near Steatoda size, but that looks a lot bigger

 

[Kibosh]

What's the size on that thing? I always pictures them as being near Steatoda size, but that looks a lot bigger

Appears to be a young female. I would say about the leg span of a US quarter piece right now. I have seen larger ones.

Put it in a larger jar and gave it a squirt of water which it immediately began drinking off the bark. Never kept a webbing spider before so very excited to give her a good home and study her behavior. Western Widows are normally from very extreme environments, mostly deserts. High heat during the day, extreme cold at night, and very little moisture. So I am expecting her to be pretty hardy. If I find any wandering males this fall I will likely plop them in there with her as either food, a mate, or both. Guess it depends on her mood.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Appears to be a young female. I would say about the leg span of a US quarter piece right now. I have seen larger ones.

Put it in a larger jar and gave it a squirt of water which it immediately began drinking off the bark. Never kept a webbing spider before so very excited to give her a good home and study her behavior. Western Widows are normally from very extreme environments, mostly deserts. High heat during the day, extreme cold at night, and very little moisture. So I am expecting her to be pretty hardy. If I find any wandering males this fall I will likely plop them in there with her as either food, a mate, or both. Guess it depends on her mood.

Very pretty spider! Gotta love the widows!

 

[darkness975]

What's the size on that thing? I always pictures them as being near Steatoda size, but that looks a lot bigger

My female Latrodectus vary in size, but they are all larger than my Steatoda triangulosa females.