Latrodectus mactans
Latrodectus mactans
Latrodectus mactans, commonly known as the Southern black widow or simply the black widow, is a highly venomous species of spider in the family Theridiidae.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /lætˈrɒdɛktəs ˈmæktænz/
Etymology
The genus name Latrodectus is derived from Greek, meaning "biting in secret". The species name mactans is Latin for "killing".
Description
The adult female is around 1.5 inches long and 0.25 inches in diameter. The male is much smaller, being only about half the size of the female. The female is easily recognizable by her black body and red hourglass-shaped marking on the underside of her abdomen.
Habitat
Latrodectus mactans is native to North America. They are found in the southern states of the United States, extending as far north as Ohio and as far west as Texas.
Venom
The venom of Latrodectus mactans is a potent neurotoxin, causing symptoms such as severe pain, muscle cramps, abdominal pain, weakness, and sweating. This condition is known as Latrodectism.
Related Terms
- Latrodectus: The genus to which Latrodectus mactans belongs.
- Theridiidae: The family of comb-footed spiders, which includes the black widows.
- Latrodectism: The clinical syndrome caused by bites from spiders in the genus Latrodectus.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Latrodectus mactans
- Wikipedia's article - Latrodectus mactans
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski