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{{Short description|Species of spider}}
{{refimprove|date=April 2016}}
{{Speciesbox
{{Speciesbox
⚫
|taxon = Latrodectus variolus
|image = Latrodectus variolus (Northern Black Widow), F Theridiidae.jpg
|image = Latrodectus variolus (Northern Black Widow), F Theridiidae.jpg
|image_caption = Female
|image_caption = Female
|image2 =Northern Black Widow - Latrodectus variolus, Julie Metz Wetlands, Woodbridge, Virginia - 15471199337.jpg
|image2 = Northern Black Widow - Latrodectus variolus, Julie Metz Wetlands, Woodbridge, Virginia - 15471199337.jpg
|image2_caption = Male (with damaged legs)
|image2_caption = Male (with damaged legs)
|status_system =
|status =
⚫
|taxon = Latrodectus variolus
|authority = [[Charles Athanase Walckenaer|Walckenaer]], 1837<ref name=WSC_s39067/>
|authority = [[Charles Athanase Walckenaer|Walckenaer]], 1837<ref name=WSC_s39067/>
}}
}}


'''''Latrodectus variolus''''', the '''northern [[black widow spider]]''' or '''northern widow''', is a medically important spider species of the genus ''[[Latrodectus]]'' in the family [[Theridiidae]]. The population is closely related to the southern black widow, ''[[Latrodectus mactans]]'', and the western black widow, ''[[Latrodectus hesperus]]'', of the genus.{{citation needed|date = February 2016}}
'''''Latrodectus variolus''''', the '''northern [[black widow spider]]''' or '''northern widow''', is a venomous species of spider in the genus ''[[Latrodectus]]'' of the family [[Theridiidae]]. The population is closely related to the southern black widow, ''[[Latrodectus mactans]]'', and the western black widow, ''[[Latrodectus hesperus]]'', of the genus.{{citation needed|date = February 2016}}


In North America, the species is commonly found in Middle Atlantic states ([[New Jersey]], [[Delaware]], [[Connecticut]], [[Maryland]]). During the April–May mating season, it can travel north along the coast as far as [[Massachusetts]] in summer, and rarely, in southern [[Ontario]] and southern [[Quebec]],<ref>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0201094| pmid=30089136| pmc=6082516|title = Predicting the distribution of poorly-documented species, Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus) and Black purse-web spider (Sphodros niger), using museum specimens and citizen science data| journal=PLOS ONE| volume=13| issue=8| pages=e0201094|year = 2018|last1 = Wang|first1 = Yifu| last2=Casajus| first2=Nicolas| last3=Buddle| first3=Christopher| last4=Berteaux| first4=Dominique| last5=Larrivée| first5=Maxim| bibcode=2018PLoSO..1301094W| doi-access=free}}</ref> Michigan,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northern Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus variolus) |url=https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/northern-black-widow-spider-latrodectus-variolus |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Plant & Pest Diagnostics |language=en-us}}</ref> and at least as far northwest as parts of Wisconsin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=pliesch |date=2018-05-22 |title=Black Widow Spiders: The Hermits of Door County, Wisconsin |url=https://insectlab.russell.wisc.edu/2018/05/22/black-widows-2017/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Insect Diagnostic Lab |language=en-US}}</ref>
It is commonly found in Middle Atlantic states ([[New Jersey]], [[Delaware]], [[Maryland]]). During the April–May mating season, it can travel north along the coast as far as [[Massachusetts]]. It also occurs in [[Connecticut]] in late summer. It is found, rarely, in southern [[Ontario]], Canada.{{citation needed|date = February 2016}}


A bite may cause [[latrodectism]], and requires medical attention in the case of increasingly severe discomfort or spreading local redness accompanied by severe pain.<ref>[http://www.calpoison.org/about/docs/20110630_Spider_bite_release_%28APP%29.pdf CalPoison.org]</ref> The [[LD-50]] has been measured in mice as {{convert|1.20-2.70|mg|abbr=on|sigfig=2}}; each spider contains about {{convert|0.254|mg|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} of venom.<ref>{{cite journal|last=McCrone|first=J.D.|title=Comparative lethality of several ''Latrodectus'' venoms|journal=[[Toxicon]]|date=December 1, 1964|volume=2|issue=3|pages=201–203|doi=10.1016/0041-0101(64)90023-6}}</ref>
A bite may cause [[latrodectism]], and requires medical attention in the case of increasingly severe discomfort or spreading local redness accompanied by severe pain.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-15 |title=California Poison Control Offers Tips about Spider Bites |url=https://calpoison.org/about/docs/20110630_Spider_bite_release_(APP).pdf |access-date=2023-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715073155/https://calpoison.org/about/docs/20110630_Spider_bite_release_(APP).pdf |archive-date=2015-07-15 }}</ref> Other symptoms, which can last up to a week, may include body aches, severe pain, fever, inflammation, nausea, and vomiting.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rochlin |first1=Ilia |last2=Hockett |first2=William |last3=Francis |first3=Arie |title=A case of pediatric northern black widow spider (Latrodectus variolus) bite in New York, USA |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041010121000519 |access-date=26 April 2023 |journal=Toxicon |year=2021 |volume=194 |pages=86–89 |doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.02.001 |pmid=33610637 |s2cid=231989262 }}</ref> Bites to humans are not typically deadly except in infants and the elderly.{{citation needed|date = May 2023}} The [[LD-50]] has been measured in mice as {{convert|1.20-2.70|mg|abbr=on|sigfig=2}}; each spider contains about {{convert|0.254|mg|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} of venom.<ref>{{cite journal|last=McCrone|first=J.D.|title=Comparative lethality of several ''Latrodectus'' venoms|journal=[[Toxicon]]|date=December 1, 1964|volume=2|issue=3|pages=201–203|doi=10.1016/0041-0101(64)90023-6|pmid=14298228}}</ref>


Unlike for the related ''Latrodectus mactans'', {{As of|2015|lc=y}} no [[antivenin]] was available.{{citation needed|date = February 2016}}
Unlike for the related ''Latrodectus mactans'', {{As of|2015|lc=y}} no [[antivenom]] was available.{{citation needed|date = February 2016}}


==References==
==References==
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{{commons category|position=left|Latrodectus variolus}}
{{commons category|position=left|Latrodectus variolus}}


{{taxonbar|from=Q94124}}
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[[Category:Latrodectus]]

[[Category:Venomous spiders]]
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[[Category:Latrodectus|variolus]]
[[Category:Spiders of North America]]
[[Category:Spiders of North America]]
[[Category:Spiders of the United States]]
[[Category:Spiders described in 1837]]

[[Category:Arthropods of Mexico]]

[[Category:Arthropods of Canada]]
{{Theridiidae-stub}}
[[Category:Animals described in 1837]]

Latest revision as of 16:00, 9 February 2024

Latrodectus variolus
Female
Male (with damaged legs)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Theridiidae
Genus: Latrodectus
Species:
L. variolus
Binomial name
Latrodectus variolus

Latrodectus variolus, the northern black widow spider or northern widow, is a venomous species of spider in the genus Latrodectus of the family Theridiidae. The population is closely related to the southern black widow, Latrodectus mactans, and the western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus, of the genus.[citation needed]

In North America, the species is commonly found in Middle Atlantic states (New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland). During the April–May mating season, it can travel north along the coast as far as Massachusetts in summer, and rarely, in southern Ontario and southern Quebec,[2] Michigan,[3] and at least as far northwest as parts of Wisconsin.[4]

A bite may cause latrodectism, and requires medical attention in the case of increasingly severe discomfort or spreading local redness accompanied by severe pain.[5] Other symptoms, which can last up to a week, may include body aches, severe pain, fever, inflammation, nausea, and vomiting.[6] Bites to humans are not typically deadly except in infants and the elderly.[citation needed] The LD-50 has been measured in mice as 1.20–2.70 mg (0.019–0.042 gr); each spider contains about 0.254 mg (0.0039 gr) of venom.[7]

Unlike for the related Latrodectus mactans, as of 2015 no antivenom was available.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Taxon details Latrodectus variolus Walckenaer, 1837", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2016-04-26
  2. ^ Wang, Yifu; Casajus, Nicolas; Buddle, Christopher; Berteaux, Dominique; Larrivée, Maxim (2018). "Predicting the distribution of poorly-documented species, Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus) and Black purse-web spider (Sphodros niger), using museum specimens and citizen science data". PLOS ONE. 13 (8): e0201094. Bibcode:2018PLoSO..1301094W. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0201094. PMC 6082516. PMID 30089136.
  3. ^ "Northern Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus variolus)". Plant & Pest Diagnostics. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  4. ^ pliesch (2018-05-22). "Black Widow Spiders: The Hermits of Door County, Wisconsin". Insect Diagnostic Lab. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  5. ^ "California Poison Control Offers Tips about Spider Bites" (PDF). 2015-07-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-15. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  6. ^ Rochlin, Ilia; Hockett, William; Francis, Arie (2021). "A case of pediatric northern black widow spider (Latrodectus variolus) bite in New York, USA". Toxicon. 194: 86–89. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.02.001. PMID 33610637. S2CID 231989262. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  7. ^ McCrone, J.D. (December 1, 1964). "Comparative lethality of several Latrodectus venoms". Toxicon. 2 (3): 201–203. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(64)90023-6. PMID 14298228.
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