Latrodectus geometricus
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The spider Latrodectus geometricus, commonly known as the brown widow, grey widow, brown button spider, or geometric button spider, is one of the widow spiders in the genus Latrodectus. As such, it is a "cousin" to the more famous black widow spider. The brown widow is found in parts of the southern United States (including Florida and Texas); as well as in parts of Australia and South Africa. The origin of this species is uncertain, as specimens were independently discovered in both Africa and in the Americas.
L. geometricus is generally lighter in color than the black widow species--the color can range from tan to dark brown, with shades of grey also possible. Like the black widow species in the United States, L. geometricus has a prominent "hourglass" marking on the underside of the abdomen. Unlike the black widows, geometricus has a black-and-white "geometric" pattern on the dorsal side of its abdoment; from this it gets its name.
Like all Latrodectus species, L. geometricus has a bite which is venomous to humans; however the clinical effects of the bite of this species are generally less severe than of the various "black" species. (This is also true of L. rhodesienses, a brown-colored relative of L. geometricus which is native to Zimbabwe; both species are collectively known as brown button spiders throughout southern Africa).
External links
- http://www.srv.net/~dkv/hobospider/widows.html
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