What kind of Black Widow Spider is this? - Ask Extension
Could someone help identify this spider for me? It looks like a black widow spider on the underside with the distinctive hour glass pattern, but has s...
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What kind of Black Widow Spider is this? #808143
Asked August 26, 2022, 11:59 AM EDT
Could someone help identify this spider for me? It looks like a black widow spider on the underside with the distinctive hour glass pattern, but has some red and white markings on the topside instead of being just black. Are they indigenous to CO? Thank you!
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Yes, I think this is a widow spider. The most common species here is the western widow. The red hourglass marking is the most important for identification, but there also are variable markings on the upper abdomen. See http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/western-widow-spider-5-605/ for details.
