The female northern black widow is similar in color and size to its northern counterpart, but instead of an hourglass, the red on its body shows as splotches or dots.

The female northern black widow is similar in color and size to its northern counterpart, but instead of an hourglass, the red on its body shows as splotches or dots.

A female black widow spider (Latrodectus), hanging upside-down in her web, showing the red hourglass marking. Getty Images. By . ... Three of those species: northern black widows, ...

The female northern black widow is similar in color and size to its northern counterpart, but instead of an hourglass, the red on its body shows as splotches or dots.

The female northern black widow is similar in color and size to its northern counterpart, but instead of an hourglass, the red on its body shows as splotches or dots.

The female northern black widow is similar in color and size to its northern counterpart, but instead of an hourglass, the red on its body shows as splotches or dots.

While black widow venom contains potent neurotoxins, these spiders are not inherently aggressive and typically only bite in self-defense when they feel threatened. “All bites do not inject the ...