FAQS: Life Sciences Unit
How deadly is the Black Widow spider?
The venom of the female Black Widow is potent (about 15 times more toxic than a rattlesnake’s), but only a tiny amount is injected with a bite. A bite can cause painful symptoms, but it is very rarely fatal. Black Widows are in fact fairly shy, and become aggressive only when guarding their pear-shaped egg sac. The adult female is shiny and black, with a bright red hourglass marking on her underside. Her body is only 1.3 cm in length, and she spends most of her time hanging upside down from her tangled-looking web. From this position she can sense vibrations from insects that stumble into the threads of her web, and at the same time advertise her red hourglass as a warning to predators.
For further information contact the Curator of Life Sciences
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