Male Black Widow Spiders: Appearance, Behavior, and Comparison to Females

Imagine youre tidying up your garage or attic, and you spot a spider. Is it a black widow? More importantly, what kind? Most people are familiar with the famously venomous female black widow, but what about her male counterpart?

Were about to shed some light on the enigmatic males of one of the most feared spider species – black widows.

While most people can easily identify a black widow by its distinctive red hourglass mark, distinguishing between males and females can be trickier. While male black widows appear, at first glance, to be far less intimidating than their female counterparts, spotting one could indicate an infestation of both.

So what do male black widows look like? We’ll answer that question in this post – and give you some helpful tips for getting rid of them.

What Do Male Black Widows Look Like?

First things first, lets talk about size. Male black widows are significantly smaller than females, often measuring only about half the size.

While female black widows can reach up to 1.5 inches in length (including the legs), males typically max out at around less than half an inch.

Color is another big giveaway when identifying male black widows. Unlike the jet-black, glossy females, males are usually brown or gray with an array of white stripes and spots on their abdomen.

This stark contrast not only helps you distinguish between genders but also adds a touch of camouflage for the males, making them harder to spot.

Also, forget about the infamous red hourglass mark. Males usually don’t have this feature. Instead, they might have small red or yellow markings, but these are less pronounced and vary from spider to spider.

Male black widows may be smaller and less colorful, but they come with their own set of distinctive features.

One of the most noticeable is their elongated pedipalps (the small appendages near their mouth). These are much more prominent in males and almost look like tiny boxing gloves. Pedipalps play a crucial role in mating, serving as both sensory organs and tools for transferring sperm to females.

Another feature to note is the body shape. While females have a round, bulbous abdomen, males are more slender and elongated, almost giving them a more agile appearance.

Differentiating Between Males and Females

Behaviorally, male black widows are quite the gentlemen. They spend most of their lives searching for a mate, often wandering far and wide. This is in stark contrast to the more sedentary females, who tend to stay close to their webs, waiting for prey or potential mates to come to them.

You might think that all black widow webs would look alike, but thats not quite the case. Males create smaller, less intricate webs compared to the large, chaotic webs of females. If you stumble upon a finely woven web, chances are it belongs to a female. Males might use existing webs to communicate with females, but their own webs are mostly functional and temporary.

Another fascinating difference between male and female black widows is their lifespan. Males generally live for about two to three months, while females can live up to a year or more. This shorter lifespan is largely because males stop eating once they reach maturity, focusing solely on finding a mate.

Males also molt fewer times than females. While females can molt up to eight times, males usually molt around six times. Each molting stage brings them closer to adulthood, where their primary focus becomes reproduction.

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FAQ

Are the male black widows poisonous?

• Female Black Widows:

  Female black widows are known for their venomous bites, which can cause severe muscle pain, cramps, and other symptoms. 

• Male Black Widows:

  Male black widows are smaller and have less developed venom glands, making their bites less dangerous and unlikely to cause significant harm to humans. 

• Why males are less likely to bite:

  Males are smaller and their fangs are not strong enough to penetrate human skin, and they are less likely to bite in the first place. 

• Defensive Bites:

  Black widow spiders, both male and female, are more likely to try to escape than to bite, and bites are usually defensive. 

• Black widow spider venom:

  Black widow venom contains a neurotoxin called latrotoxin which affects the nervous system. 

How can you tell a male black widow?

Male’s abdomen elongate with white and red markings on sides. The female’s abdomen is almost spherical, usually with a red hourglass mark below or with 2 transverse red marks separated by black (more common in Tri-State region. The legs of the male are much longer in proportion to his body than those of the female.

What can be mistaken for a black widow?

• False Widow Spiders:

  • They belong to the genus Steatoda and are not as dangerous as black widow spiders. 

  • They have a similar dark, globular body to black widows. 

  • They are often found in similar habitats, such as sheds, garages, attics, and under rocks or logs. 

  • They are not aggressive and will usually retreat when disturbed, only biting in self-defense. 

  • Their bites, while painful, are less dangerous than those of true black widows, causing localized pain, swelling, and redness, but serious reactions are rare. 

• Brown Widow Spiders:

  • They are also in the same family as black widows (Theridiidae). 

  • Young brown widows and western black widows look very much alike when they are young. 

  • The brown widow has a tan to dark brown color with an orange or yellow hourglass mark on its underside, while the black widow has a red hourglass mark. 

  • Brown widows are shy and tend to avoid contact with humans. 

  • Although their venom is as potent as black widow venom, the brown widow probably doesn’t inject very much venom, making it much less dangerous. 

• Key Differences to Note:

  • Hourglass Mark: Black widows have a red hourglass mark on their underside, while false widows and brown widows do not. 

  • Body Shape: False widow abdomens are less rounded than those of black widows. 

  • Aggressiveness: Black widows can be aggressive, while false widows and brown widows are shy and tend to avoid contact. 

  • Webs: While both widow spiders and false widows build webs, the webs of false widows are more irregular and less tidy than those of black widows. 

What is the male version of a black widow?

• Size and Appearance:

  • Male black widow spiders are typically smaller than females, with body lengths ranging from 3–10 mm (0.12–0.39 in). 

  • They have elongated abdomens and long legs in proportion to their bodies. 

  • While females are shiny black, males often have various red or red and white markings on the dorsal surface (upper side) of their abdomen, ranging from a single stripe to bars or spots. 

• Behavior:

  • Male black widow spiders do not bite. 

  • They come to the female’s web to mate, and are often killed and eaten by the female. 

  • Some males may offer a food item tied up in silk to the female to distract her. 

• Mating:

  • Male black widows will follow chemical cues (pheromones) released by potential female mates. 

  • They will also follow silk trails left by rival males to find a female’s web. 

• Venom:

  • Male widow spiders are not considered dangerous. 

Are black widow spiders male or female?

It’s important to differentiate between male and female black widow spiders, as females pose a more significant threat to humans due to their venomous bite. Black widow spiders create irregular, messy webs with strong silk. These webs serve as a way to capture prey and communicate through vibrations. Here are some key features of black widow webs:

What is the difference between a male and a female Black Widow?

Male Black Widows are significantly smaller than females, with a body length of about 1/4 to 1/3 the size. Their coloration is less distinct, often grayish or brownish with lighter markings. Unlike females, they lack the iconic red hourglass shape on their abdomen.

What does a Black Widow Spider look like?

The Black Widow Spider is a spider with a big and round abdomen for females, and a slender body for males. They are infamous for cannibalizing their mating partners, but this behavior is not common, unless the female is really hungry.