Latrodectus questions

[SouthernStyle]

I found a Widow the other day that I've not seen in Colorado Before... It was Hiding under a piece of wood with 4 other L.Hesperus (F)'s And I thought I would snag it...UNFORTUNATELY, I couldnt get a good picture of it because it's small...SO I'll do my best to describe it, and If I can get a pic when I get home, I'll post it...

It's About 1.5", Solid Black with the famed red hour glass on the underside of her abdomen, But on the back of the abdomen, IT has a bright orange stripe...Everything else looks just like the L.Hesperus Females, but I've NOT seen one like this here...

Any Insights?

 

[Canth]

Probably just a pretty hesperus. Lots of those popping up lately.

 

[SouthernStyle]

Probably just a pretty hesperus. Lots of those popping up lately.

I Figured as much, I didnt think it would be that special, but One that I've not seen....Maybe just a Morph?

 

[Canth]

That's what I'm thinking. I have a few myself and am looking to see if the traits are inheritable.

 

[Widowman10]

i've not seen one like that yet in CO. i've just seen the plain, jet black hesperus with the hourglass. sounds interesting. where in CO did you find it? where you live, or where you work?

 

[SouthernStyle]

i've not seen one like that yet in CO. i've just seen the plain, jet black hesperus with the hourglass. sounds interesting. where in CO did you find it? where you live, or where you work?

Found it with the Wife in Greeley of all places....On a House she was doing an inspection on...So We'll see what happens with it...I'll probably snap a couple pix of her here in the next couple days

 

[Widowman10]

Found it with the Wife in Greeley of all places....On a House she was doing an inspection on...So We'll see what happens with it...I'll probably snap a couple pix of her here in the next couple days

definitely do take pics. i would like to see it. of the several hundreds i've found, i've yet to see one like that!! i would definitely be interested in that... you said you found like 4 or 5? were the others like the one you described?

haha, you might also talk to buthus, i'm sure he's had his fair share of "funny colored" widows

 

[SouthernStyle]

definitely do take pics. i would like to see it. of the several hundreds i've found, i've yet to see one like that!! i would definitely be interested in that... you said you found like 4 or 5? were the others like the one you described?

haha, you might also talk to buthus, i'm sure he's had his fair share of "funny colored" widows

Ha ha~ The Other ones were just the plain old L.Hesperus Females....Nothing to amazing

 

[KUJordan]

What you saw was a certain species of Steatoda. They are in the same family as widows and other comb-footed spiders. There are certain species of them that are specific to using L. hesperus and L. variolus webs. In my area you can't find an L. variolus without also finding a little black Steatoda in there with her. I'm not sure exactly what species they are, but they are small and shiny black just like a widow and some have orange/yellow/red markings on them but the abdomen is just slightly more oblong-shaped than Latros.

 

[8+)]

It's About 1.5", Solid Black with the famed red hour glass on the underside of her abdomen...

I don't know of any Steatoda with an hourglass...:?

 

[Widowman10]

I don't know of any Steatoda with an hourglass...:?

me neither...:?

 

[buthus]

The ones that hold (clearly) their 6th-7th instar markings after final molt are supposed to be found only around the border. This, along with your description of an outlined hr glass. Id have to put my money on her having another molt to go. Sometimes they will molt(final) and still have the markings (though faded) then those marking will fade to black/brown, most of the time completely, but sometimes some markings will remain.
I just collected one here that was like that... I thought I had a rare winner, but she went completely coco on me. Very pretty chocolate girl, but no more dorsal decorations.

Keep us posted if you plan on watching her for awhile.

edit: threadjack...

There are certain species of them that are specific to using L. hesperus and L. variolus webs. In my area you can't find an L. variolus without also finding a little black Steatoda in there with her. I'm not sure exactly what species they are, but they are small and shiny black just like a widow and some have orange/yellow/red markings on them but the abdomen is just slightly more oblong-shaped than Latros.

Jordan, next time you get out into variolus country, shoot me a PM. Id be interested in helping fund the expedition via gas money or whatnot (beer money? ) Trying to breed some of my variolus right now, but conditions may not be right. Would love some new blood. But, also... very interested in the Steatoda that are cohabiting with the widows. From what you describe, they dont sound like grossa nor the other usual suspects.

 

[SouthernStyle]

SO~ I Finally get home To Greeley, and That Widow Molted while I was gone...She Still has that Stripe too...Kinda Strange

BUT to top it all off, My Wife Brings me this small deli cup And Says "Look What I found on my lampshade" (Mind that it's right next to the BED)...I took one good look at the spider, and IMMEDIATELY noticed that it was a Male Widow...

Once I Explained this to my Wife She LOST IT... She said "I picked it up because it was Cool looking!"

ABSOLUTELY Made my evening!! I'm going to see if he'll poke the female with the Red stripe...And We'll go from there!

Oh~ And She DIDNT get bit...THANK GOD!

 

[Canth]

Actually, male widows are harmless That's cool though, keep us posted on breeding.

 

[SouthernStyle]

Actually, male widows are harmless That's cool though, keep us posted on breeding.

Well~ She Chowed Him This morning....SO I think he's Toast...Let's Just HOPE that She's been Poked enough to drop a Sack for me

 

[UrbanJungles]

If you leave a female widow in her jar outside for a few hours (out of sunlight) you may be able to attract another male for another try...they seem to come from all over to find a female.

 

[PurpleFlutterby]

SO~ I Finally get home To Greeley, and That Widow Molted while I was gone...She Still has that Stripe too...Kinda Strange

BUT to top it all off, My Wife Brings me this small deli cup And Says "Look What I found on my lampshade" (Mind that it's right next to the BED)...I took one good look at the spider, and IMMEDIATELY noticed that it was a Male Widow...

Once I Explained this to my Wife She LOST IT... She said "I picked it up because it was Cool looking!"

ABSOLUTELY Made my evening!! I'm going to see if he'll poke the female with the Red stripe...And We'll go from there!

Oh~ And She DIDNT get bit...THANK GOD!

I swear I'm NOT touching another spider I find crawling around my house again!! If I would've known then that thing woulda been dead the second I saw it lol!!

If you leave a female widow in her jar outside for a few hours (out of sunlight) you may be able to attract another male for another try...they seem to come from all over to find a female.

Maybe that explains why I've never seen them before! Let alone in my house lol!