Facts about Black Widow Spiders

1. 07

   Black widow spiders can survive up to three years in the wild, making them among the longest-lived spider species relative to their body size.

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2. 06

   Latrodectus hasselti, the Australian redback spider, causes more serious envenomations in Australia than the Sydney funnel-web despite being less lethal, with around 250 bites reported annually to poison centers.

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3. 05

   A black widow spider's distinctive red hourglass marking on its abdomen serves as a warning to predators about its venomous nature.

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4. 04

   Only about 1 in 239 bites from black widows result in death, as they inject venom in just 80 percent of defensive bites.

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5. 03

   Male black widow spiders are typically one-fourth the size of females and often cannibalized after mating, which occurs in only about 25 percent of encounters.

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6. 02

   Female black widows can lay up to 250 eggs in a single silk egg sac and produce multiple sacs throughout their lifetime.

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7. 01

   The neurotoxin in a black widow spider's venom is 15 times more potent than rattlesnake venom by weight.

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