Summary
Red widows have an orange-red cephalothorax and legs with a black abdomen; black widows are uniformly glossy black. Red widows are a Florida endemic.
Diagnostic traits
| Trait | Red Widow | Southern Black Widow |
|---|---|---|
| Cephalothorax & legs | Orange to red | Glossy black |
| Abdomen | Black with red dorsal spots ringed in yellow | Glossy black, red hourglass below |
| Range | Central & southern Florida scrub | Southeast U.S. generally |
| Habitat | Sand pine scrub palmetto fronds | Sheds, woodpiles, junk |
The bottom line
At-a-glance comparison
| Red Widow | Southern Black Widow | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific | Latrodectus bishopi | Latrodectus mactans |
| Family | Theridiidae | Theridiidae |
| ♀ body | 9–13 mm | 8–13 mm |
| Leg span | 25–38 mm | 25–38 mm |
| Range | 1 U.S. states | 23 U.S. states |
| Medical | Medically significant | Medically significant |