Black Widow Spider

Class	Arachnida
Order	Araneae
Family	Theridiidae
Genus	Latrodectus
Range	Common in the tropics and parts of North and South America.
Habitat	Dark, protected crevices.
Size	Females grow to 1.2 cm (0.5 in); males are smaller, with longer legs in proportion to their body.
Feeding Habits	Black widow spiders are carnivores; they feed on insects they catch in their webs.
Offspring	The female spider deposits up to 750 eggs in an egg sac. The eggs hatch after two to four weeks.
Life Span	About one to two years.
Did You Know	Black widows prefer to stay away from people—they only bite in defense.
	The black widow is the most poisonous spider in the United States.
	Only female black widows are dangerous to people.
	Contrary to popular belief, the female black widow spider usually does not kill her partner after mating.