Black Widow Spider Montana
One of only two poisonous spiders found in montana the black widow is generally not aggressive unless the female is protecting her eggs.
Black widow spider montana. Black widows are comb footed spiders which means they. Certain house spiders of the wolf and jumping family are also indigenous to montana. There are approximately 2 200 bites reported each year but there has not been a death related to a widow spider in the u s. It is important to remember that spiders seen in montana are not bound by the territorial lines decided on by humans therefore their distribution is subject to change.
Montana has about 9 to 10 species of spiders belonging to a host of different families. Spiders found in montana include 9 unique species from confirmed sightings by contributing members of spider id. Montana spider identification and management natural heritage mapviewer statewide database of animal observations spider resources from university of nebraska lincoln. Montana natural heritage program.
However such general common names are of limited use as the diversity of species is much greater. Of the poisonous spiders the black widow is common though another deadly species the brown recluse does not thrive here. Black widow spiders also use their webs to ensnare their prey which consists of flies mosquitoes grasshoppers beetles and caterpillars. Since 1983 if you re bitten by a black widow you may have intense.
October 7 2014 the only truly poisonous spiders in montana are the black widow species both very docile and non aggressive unless the female is protecting the egg sac. Western black widow latrodectus hesperus. The spider s name comes from the female s unpleasant tendency to dine on the male after mating. On the underside of their abdomens is an orange or reddish hourglass marking.
Latrodectus is a broadly distributed genus of spiders with several species that together are referred to as true widows this group is composed of those often loosely called black widow spider brown widow spiders and similar spiders. The steatoda grossa commonly called the false black widow spider or cupboard spider can be found throughout the united states.