CLOSED: Male black widow???

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newhobby Tolleson, AZ(Zone 9a) Aug 19, 2007

While feeding the birds, which I haven't done in about a month and was chastised for yesterday by a little birdie, I found this guy and another spider who was very dead sitting in the bird feeder! Needless to say, I will be extra careful next time I pull the lid off the feeder! Any clues what he is? I thought maybe a male black widow but he is so brown on his back with funny markings. .He's already spinning a web in the plastic container I put him in....ugh! My skin won't stop prickling knowing how close my hands came to him!!

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newhobby Tolleson, AZ(Zone 9a) Aug 19, 2007

his back...

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newhobby Tolleson, AZ(Zone 9a) Aug 19, 2007

hard to get shot but here is one more

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Aug 19, 2007

Look at pictures of Brown Widows and Western Black Widows

http://bugguide.net/node/view/23403

If you keep clicking on the name "Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus)", more pictures will show up to compare with yours and the Western B.W.:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/26346

They're so variable, it's hard to say what it is - and since you've captured it you can still look at the pictures.

I found a raccoon skull a couple days ago and brought it home to show my 'nephews', and found a Northen Black Widow living in the skull!!! The kids were impressed. Ages 10 and 7, they love that sort of thing. Their mom wasn't too happy about it though. Luckily I had a ziplock baggie in my pocket when I found the skull or I would have just carried it home in my hand.

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Aug 20, 2007

Definitely a female widow - and poisonous. As Claypa pointed out - they are extremely variable...

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newhobby Tolleson, AZ(Zone 9a) Aug 21, 2007

Thanks you guys! He is now with our wonderful bug man who made sure to spray the birdfeeder I found it in just in case there were babies! I love the products he uses because they are harmless once dry to any other living creature (i.e. pets and especially kids!!) Speaking of pets, my good for nothing but lovable kitty just jumped up, better get to the lovins!

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Aug 21, 2007

But is it safe for birds? Lots of things aren't.....What did he use?

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newhobby Tolleson, AZ(Zone 9a) Aug 21, 2007

I didn't get the name of the product but he says they use it in meat packaging plants for bugs and wouldn't harm the birds,,,I went ahead and replaced the seed that was in there when he sprayed just for safe measures but he is a good family friend so I trust him! =0)

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Aug 21, 2007

Just wondered, since some things that are safe for people are not safe for birds....

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