Black widow spiders were named because it was once believed that females were cannibals that fed on males after mating. This does happen occasionally but not as frequently as once thought.
Females are more imposing with their shiny black exoskeleton marked with a red hourglass symbol. They have a venomous bite used to disable prey. Males are smaller and not much of a threat. They hide in dark, cool, undisturbed areas.
Classification: Black widows are invertebrates in the genus Latrodectus, which includes brown widows. They produce venom containing the neurotoxin Latrotoxin.
