Latrodectus variolus explained

Latrodectus variolus, the northern black widow spider or northern widow, is a venomous species of spider in the genus Latrodectus of the family Theridiidae. The population is closely related to the southern black widow, Latrodectus mactans, and the western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus, of the genus.

In North America, the species is commonly found in Middle Atlantic states (New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland). During the April–May mating season, it can travel north along the coast as far as Massachusetts in summer, and rarely, in southern Ontario and southern Quebec,^[1] Michigan,^[2] and at least as far northwest as parts of Wisconsin.^[3]

A bite may cause latrodectism, and requires medical attention in the case of increasingly severe discomfort or spreading local redness accompanied by severe pain.^[4] Other symptoms, which can last up to a week, may include body aches, severe pain, fever, inflammation, nausea, and vomiting.^[5] Bites to humans are not typically deadly except in infants and the elderly. The LD-50 has been measured in mice as NaNmg; each spider contains about 0.254mg of venom.^[6]

Unlike for the related Latrodectus mactans, no antivenom was available.

Notes and References

1. 10.1371/journal.pone.0201094. 30089136. 6082516. Predicting the distribution of poorly-documented species, Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus) and Black purse-web spider (Sphodros niger), using museum specimens and citizen science data. PLOS ONE. 13. 8. e0201094. 2018. Wang. Yifu. Casajus. Nicolas. Buddle. Christopher. Berteaux. Dominique. Larrivée. Maxim. 2018PLoSO..1301094W. free.
2. Web site: Northern Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus variolus) . 2023-05-09 . Plant & Pest Diagnostics . en-us.
3. Web site: pliesch . 2018-05-22 . Black Widow Spiders: The Hermits of Door County, Wisconsin . 2023-05-09 . Insect Diagnostic Lab . en-US.
4. Web site: 2015-07-15 . California Poison Control Offers Tips about Spider Bites . 2023-05-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150715073155/https://calpoison.org/about/docs/20110630_Spider_bite_release_(APP).pdf . 2015-07-15 .
5. Rochlin . Ilia . Hockett . William . Francis . Arie . A case of pediatric northern black widow spider (Latrodectus variolus) bite in New York, USA . 26 April 2023 . Toxicon . 2021 . 194 . 86–89 . 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.02.001 . 33610637 . 231989262 .
6. McCrone. J.D.. Comparative lethality of several Latrodectus venoms. Toxicon. December 1, 1964. 2. 3. 201–203. 10.1016/0041-0101(64)90023-6. 14298228.