Latrodectus hesperus
It has been a 1 1/2 weeks since I first visited this mature male black widow. He is still alive and well with many dead moths underneath
him on the ground. I think he wandered for awhile in search of a female and then gave up and decided to be a bachelor. I have to say he keeps
a much neater web than the females although I think i spotted a tiny beer can and some potato chips in the corner. It's going to snow this
weekend and freeze so I'll check back on him again later if possible to see what happened to him. © Carol Davis, 10-8-2008
Mature Male Western Black Widow Spider hanging in a web on Antelope Island. The swollen palps (little boxing-glove-like things protruding
from the front) indicate this spider has reach maturity. Male black widows spiders don't eat as they wander in search of a female. This explains
why this one is so skinny and wrinkled. Male black widows can bite if bothered but do not cause extreme abdominal pain and neurological
symptoms like the female. The female bite will most likely put you in the hospital. © Carol Davis, 9-28-2008
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