can black widows be any other color besides black?

Question

I just saw the biggest spider I have ever seen around here (Ohio). It had an hour glass shape on its belly but it was a reddish color. Any body know what this is

sorry. The hour glass shape was black. The body was a reddish brown color

Answer 1

There are five known species of widow spiders in North America. (see list below) Typically, widows are solid glossy black except for a red "hourglass" on the underside of the abdomen near the spinnerets. However, adult widows may possess spots, bars, and stripes in various places and in various colors, usually red, orange, or white. Juveniles may be brown or orange with no black at all. Some species may keep the juvenile colors into adulthood (that is, not black). Some widows do not have the stereotypical hourglass, and sometimes not even any red markings. Males do not typically have the hourglass. (I have captured and observed several color phases on both juvenile and adult widow spiders.)
Adult females reach about 1/2" in body length (slightly bigger if bearing eggs), and have a leg span of about 1 1/2". The males are smaller than the females.
Widow venom is highly toxic, but human deaths from widow bites are rare. Symptoms may include pain, numbness, muscle cramps, sweating, nausea, vomiting, temporary hypertension, muscle tremors, and irregular heartbeat. Symptoms usually disappear within 12-24 hours.
By the way, I was bitten on the top of my foot by a black widow when I was about ten years old. I experienced mild to moderate pain from my foot to my hip for several hours, and severe pain for a few hours. The next day I was fine. I still have the scar.

North American Widow Species:
Brown widow- Latrodectus geometricus
Northern black widow- Latrodectus variolus
Red widow- Latrodectus bishopi
Southern black widow- Latrodectus mactans
Western black widow- Latrodectus hesperus
The name "black widow" is commonly applied to all widows regardless of color or species.

You can learn more about widow spiders from the Virginia Cooperative Extension at http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/entomology/444-422/444-422.html
and excellent images with various color phases can be seen at Forestry Images- http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?SUB=2175

Answer 2

Black widow spiders can become quite large. The largest one I have ever seen was about the size of a large walnut. The females are glossy black everywhere except their abdomen, where they have a reddish-orange hourglass shape. The males are considerably smaller and not as easy to identify; they are more of a brownish color and you can't see the hourglass shape as clearly. They are the among the most poisonous of spiders and one bite can kill a human-- however, the good news is that they almost never bite people; they will only bite you when they are startled or injured. They're most likely to be found in dark damp places like underneath the porch, in a basement crawl space, or up under the rafters of an old shed or barn.

Answer 3

The hour glass is a reddish color. Usually unless it's actually what is known as a brown widow, the black widow's body is black.

Answer 4

well depends where the reddish color was if it was under the spider then yes that is a BLACK WIDOW but i would go on a website just put into ask.com species of spiders that live in Ohio. and see what you come up with but i would think that it is a black widow. I had one in my Garage and it was HUGE and it had a bright red diomand shape on the underbelly of it. But it was the biggest spider i have ever seen most i saw were tiny.

Answer 5

Female black widows are always black with a red, white, or yellow hourglass. Male and young black widows are brown with white stripes and specs all over their body. The spider you are talking about does not sound like a black widow but I would not be able to say without seeing a picture of it. If your not sure of the spiders breed then I would stay away from it, just don't kill it unless you know if it is poisonous or not.

Answer 6

Black widows are not really huge or anything. they are usualy very shiny black and kind of hard looking, not fuzzy or hairy. The red mark is not always noticible. The web is distinctive, it is not round like a spiral but more like a bunch of lines every which way. It hardly looks like a real web at all. I have no Idea what spider you have found.

Answer 7

Red hourglass shaped mark on an otherwise black body is indicative of a black widow spider; however, they are not especially large (at least not by my definition).

Answer 8

ok, here is the truth because i've seen one and researched it myself. there are spiders that look like black widows, but aren't. they have the red hour glass, but they are brown. they are australian brown widows. they are sorta new to the United States, but they have been seen more and more. this is probably what you have. try www.wikipedia.com for more info. even if it isn't the brown widow, wikipedia should give you more info on spiders and probalby some pictures to help you out

Answer 9

I've never seen a black widow s pider any other color than black. However, the one you mention sounds suspicious. Try to steer clear of it. Or better yet, have someone help you catch it and that way you won't be guessing where it is when you least expect it.

Answer 10

Black widow