Tag: Latrodectus mactans

Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)

macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

This southern black widow was found at Sand Prairie Conservation Area in Scott County MO. Quite unusually, she had built a web in the open within the tallest branches of a Polygonum americanum (American jointweed), where she had just dispatched a Dielis plumipes (Feather-legged Scoliid Wasp).

This southern black widow female was found wrapping up her prey, a feather-legged scoliid wasp at Sand Prairie C. A.
My shadow cast as I took photos caused her to head for cover.
I also found a male southern black widow moving about the boundaries of the female’s web.