this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2024
685 points (97.2% liked)

Comic Strips

12945 readers
2874 users here now

Comic Strips is a community for those who love comic stories.

The rules are simple:

Web of links

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Source: Alzwards Corner

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

Yes, they are all in the Latrodectus family, all have venom containing the neurotoxin latrotoxin, which causes latrodectism (pain, vomiting, muscle rigidity, sweating).

Australian Redbacks are Latrodectus hasseltii:

New Zealand Katipo are Latrodectus katipo:

Western Black Widows are Latrodectus hesperus:

Southern Black Widows are Latrodectus mactans:

Female:

Male:

Northern Black Widows are Latrodectus variolus:

European Black Widows are Latrodectus tredecimguttatus:

South American Black Widows are Latrodectus corallinus:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latrodectus

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago

Thank you for the well sourced response.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I used to be in a black widow-free area but it seems that European "13 spots" one is now starting to show up here.

Probably not good news.