Latrodectus variolus in the wild

[Brian S]

With the days and nights getting cooler there isnt much time left to be in the field. This is my favorite time of year to look for Latrodectus variolus. These are more elusive than L mactans mostly because of its habitat. While L mactans seems to prefer more open areas that are rocky and even close to human dwellings, L variolus prefers heavily forested areas which are located on ridges and hillsides.

Here is prime L variolus territory


Juveniles and males have nice colors. This is an adult male (note the large pedipalps)


Finding the webs can be difficult, however if you walk with the Sun in front of you they will glow when sunlight hits them. The webs are typical of other Latrodectus in that they are tangled and the silk is very strong. L variolus seems to prefer to make their webs among the leaf litter on the ground. Often they make their retreat next to a small bush, in this case a Wild Huckleberry


The adults of this species retains the beautiful dorsal striping. This is a subadult female I found in the web from the previous photo.


I put the spider in a ciggarette cellaphane to show the broken hourglass on the abdomen. This is the best way to distinguish L variolus from L mactans.

 

[RodG]

Nice!!!

Great pictures, keep them coming!

 

[Brian S]

I might go out some tomorrow. If I do I'll take the camera againg and get more pics.

 

[buthus]

I'm inspired by these photos. Their habitat will be interesting to simulate in an enclosure. Such a different niche that variolus fill.
Hesperus tend to avoid plant matter altogether as long as they have the oppertunity to do so. Sometimes they will connect to larger living structure, but rarely to twigs, living leaves and grasses. I dont think they can compete with all the Pholcids and funnels such as Hololena that we have here. Pholcids will start surrounding the widows webbing and sooner than later, she will be missing.

 

[KUJordan]

I agree with Brian that variolus are only found in deeply undisturbed woody areas. I have posted some pics of Kansas variolus habitat on VL previously, but to go along with Brian's MO habitat shots I figured I'd post them here as well. I hope you don't mind Brian. Here's a nice adult female variolus' web Matt (mechanical-mind) and I found in a deep wood juniper invaded field:

Here are a couple of habitat shots of another location where variolus can be found in great numbers in northeast Kansas:

 

[Brian S]

As far as enclosures go, I have always kept them the same as other Latros. They dont seem to mind as long as they get plenty to eat. I put slings and sub adults in 20-40 dram vials with 1 dead curled leaf. I do this with all Latros

 

[buthus]

As far as enclosures go, I have always kept them the same as other Latros. They dont seem to mind as long as they get plenty to eat. I put slings and sub adults in 20-40 dram vials with 1 dead curled leaf. I do this with all Latros

In the wild, I see from one of these pics that they web up amoungst leaves and twigs, yet i am curious to know if they create their own lair in the web or do they have a retreat within a more solid structure?

 

[Brian S]

They actually just make a "funnel like" retreat in the leaves usually although some will make it at the base of a tree or rock