Southern Black Widow

There are three species of black widows in the US, all of which produce venom that is 15 times stronger than rattlesnake venom.  Human fatalities are rare since these are unaggressive spiders that only bite in self-defense.

Despite the name, female black widows which are much larger than the males, rarely kill their mates.

HABITATForests, woodlands, grasslands, deserts
DIETInsects
LIFE Expectancy1-3 years