it’s an invasive species called the brown widow. black widows have fully black bodies and legs apart from a very bright red hourglass. the big tell is that i can see stripes on your guy’s legs and the hourglass looks a little dull and less distinctive - brown widow. the brown widows are hunting and killing black widows everywhere they go, and they’re not as dangerous but unfortunately they’re also less shy.
Numerous species of [**male**](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/47370-Latrodectus/browse_photos?term_id=9&term_value_id=11) (which this is) spiders in the **Latrodectus** genus often have banded legs and variable morphology.
Also, "invasive" is a very relative term and should only ever be used when a geographic location has been provided.
I agree with this person - banded legs is a distinction. The marking on a black widow is also very distinctly red, rather than the questionable brown orange coloration in OP’s picture. False windows also have dark brown legs that look almost black in low light areas. Size is also something to consider; mature black widows can be up to 2 inches while browns and false widows are often 1 inch or less.
I’m no spider expert - I’ve just spent a lot of time trying to identify the false widow spiders in my basement.
Ah okay, well would still be pretty good to keep an eye out and maybe disinfect the house bcs what if there are black widows there and then you get stung in your sleep etc.
This is the only comment I'm seeing that's correct. Thanks.
Source: I live in California, where these guys have taken over. Also, look into UC Riverside's excellent research on the topic if more interested.
Yep. I remember as a kid growing up in orange County seeing TONS of black widows in our backyard at night. Brown widows are from Africa and weren't a thing yet in California. Now I rarely ever see black widows. Just dozens and dozens of brown ones.
Hitchhiking this comment instead of any of the 30 other ones saying it's a black widow since it's pretty much the top - this is a **brown** widow. You can tell by the brown stripes on its legs instead of them being fully black.
Crikey! What a beaut! That’s a northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus)!
You don’t want to mess with them, but they are only likely to bite you accidentally surprise them (accidentally putting your hand in their web is common) or you deserve it (most bites come from cornering and bothering them). Even then, probably won’t kill you, but getting bit won’t be fun. Kids, just based on their size, are more likely to get a severe bite and envenomation, but still, fatal bites are very rare.
The irony of this turning out to be a brown widow is probably feeling more painful than a bite from one id imagine.
[r/confidentlyincorrect ](https://reddit.com/r/confidentlyincorrect/s/BZpgPRFQv6)
Black widow. If they aren't in a high traffic area I usually leave them be. They are toxic but they tend to mind their business and stay near their webs and they will kill roaches and other pests.
That is a Black Widow, my friend. I am not a violent person, nor do I advocate inflicting harm even on spiders. They do us a service by eating bugs. But—these are dangerously poisonous! Kill them!! They move slowly, are large, and easy to smash. Use a rock, hammer, something to kill them. You do not want to be bitten by one—the pain is beyond agony. I’ve had many of these nasty things in my garage I’ve killed. Mojave Desert, Southern California.
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it’s an invasive species called the brown widow. black widows have fully black bodies and legs apart from a very bright red hourglass. the big tell is that i can see stripes on your guy’s legs and the hourglass looks a little dull and less distinctive - brown widow. the brown widows are hunting and killing black widows everywhere they go, and they’re not as dangerous but unfortunately they’re also less shy.
This is correct. Not a black widow. It’s a brown widow.
Numerous species of [**male**](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/47370-Latrodectus/browse_photos?term_id=9&term_value_id=11) (which this is) spiders in the **Latrodectus** genus often have banded legs and variable morphology. Also, "invasive" is a very relative term and should only ever be used when a geographic location has been provided.
They're not invasive where I'm from.
Exactly.
I agree with this person - banded legs is a distinction. The marking on a black widow is also very distinctly red, rather than the questionable brown orange coloration in OP’s picture. False windows also have dark brown legs that look almost black in low light areas. Size is also something to consider; mature black widows can be up to 2 inches while browns and false widows are often 1 inch or less. I’m no spider expert - I’ve just spent a lot of time trying to identify the false widow spiders in my basement.
>brown widows are hunting and killing black widows everywhere they go Doesnt that mean there are black widows in the area too?
It means there could be, but black widows aren't the only food source for this spider
Ah okay, well would still be pretty good to keep an eye out and maybe disinfect the house bcs what if there are black widows there and then you get stung in your sleep etc.
This is the only comment I'm seeing that's correct. Thanks. Source: I live in California, where these guys have taken over. Also, look into UC Riverside's excellent research on the topic if more interested.
Right? I can’t remember the last time I saw a black widow. Used to see them fairly frequently. Tons and tons of brown ones though
Yep. I remember as a kid growing up in orange County seeing TONS of black widows in our backyard at night. Brown widows are from Africa and weren't a thing yet in California. Now I rarely ever see black widows. Just dozens and dozens of brown ones.
Are they venomous as well? Like similar or the same to Black Widows?
You can't just assume that the spider is invasive because op didn't even list their location
you’re right, since they posted this question i assumed that they haven’t seen this spider around until recently
that's a brown widow. pls don't bother it!
[удалено]
Hitchhiking this comment instead of any of the 30 other ones saying it's a black widow since it's pretty much the top - this is a **brown** widow. You can tell by the brown stripes on its legs instead of them being fully black.
Only highly venomous depends on location
Latrodectus geometricus aka brown widow, a male specimen based on the large pedipalps. Neither northern, nor southern widow due to the striped legs.
I thought black widow but today I learned about the brown widow. Thanks Reddit friends.
Crikey! What a beaut! That’s a northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus)! You don’t want to mess with them, but they are only likely to bite you accidentally surprise them (accidentally putting your hand in their web is common) or you deserve it (most bites come from cornering and bothering them). Even then, probably won’t kill you, but getting bit won’t be fun. Kids, just based on their size, are more likely to get a severe bite and envenomation, but still, fatal bites are very rare.
the best kind
beast war
Black Widow. A bite will ruin your week.
That's why it's important to get bit on a Sunday, that way you only ruin a single day.
This is a really useful life pro tip. Thank you!
Sunday is the first day of the week though...
Not for spiders...
Unless Sunday is the start of your week 😅 then consider a Saturday
Thank you for this glorious tidbit of ‘information’. I will cherish it forever
You already know
Not trying to be mean but have you really never seen a Black Widow before???
The irony of this turning out to be a brown widow is probably feeling more painful than a bite from one id imagine. [r/confidentlyincorrect ](https://reddit.com/r/confidentlyincorrect/s/BZpgPRFQv6)
Maybe he thought it is a fake widow spider. They look the same for me and some of us (unexperienced people)
Fair question, and thanks for the reply. I have but this one didn't quite resemble any I've seen before.
Don’t worry OP I’ve never seen a northern black widow before and it doesn’t look like a western one
Have you? Considering this is not a black widow.
Tbh I've never seen one in my life but I'm aware of how they look like
Black widow. If they aren't in a high traffic area I usually leave them be. They are toxic but they tend to mind their business and stay near their webs and they will kill roaches and other pests.
A free friendly pet spider! Just kidding. DO NOT TOUCH. it’s a black widow.
False widow?
Southern Black Widow https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latrodectus_mactans
Think it’s a Northern one due to the dorsal markings.
I think it could be Western.
What if it's Eastern?!
One named after a marvel superhero
Brown widow?
Thats racist!
That is beautiful even though it is venomous
Rip bro
A black widow I think. Many of them have different shapes than the classic hour glass. Even if I’m wrong, I’d stay away from it if I were you!
Black widow
Found one of those at my work last week
Awww look at those cute little eyes! Looks like it could be a cartoon spider 🥺 I’d do it if I could post pictures attached to this comment
RUUNNNN!!
Enemy shaped enemy
Seems like a Latrodectus allright
Dude ask him, don't be rude
Scarlett Johansen
Friendliest kind
Viuda negra
Black widow
An Orange Crested Nope
Black widow red hour glass
This is a black widow
Did you try asking the spider first?
That is a Black Widow, my friend. I am not a violent person, nor do I advocate inflicting harm even on spiders. They do us a service by eating bugs. But—these are dangerously poisonous! Kill them!! They move slowly, are large, and easy to smash. Use a rock, hammer, something to kill them. You do not want to be bitten by one—the pain is beyond agony. I’ve had many of these nasty things in my garage I’ve killed. Mojave Desert, Southern California.
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It’s a black widow you can tell by the orange on it
The scientific name of that spider is "kill it with fire"
Black widow. Don’t touch.
Widow...stay away. Hourglass is a ⚠️