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Black Widows
Of the dozen spiders that pose a threat to man, the black widow is among the most dangerous. The male of the species is small and virtually harmless, but the female is armed with venom that, drop for drop, is more potent than a rattlesnake's. The spider shown
above in her favorite hanging position, shows off the distinctive red hourglass marking on her abdomen. She does not always kill the male after mating, although like most female spiders she will resort to eating her own kind when hungry. During courtship the male approaches her web with extreme caution.
If you are ever bitten by a widow, seek immediate medical
attention. You will be given an anti venom to counteract the
poison. An important thing to remember is that you can only
receive the anti venom once in your lifetime.
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