Images in Clinical Medicine

Latrodectus mactans

Lawrence B. Stack, M.D.

N Engl J Med 1997; 336:1649June 5, 1997

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Figure 1 The black widow spider, of the genus latrodectus, is found predominantly in the southern and western United States but inhabits every state except Alaska. The mature female has a leg span of up to 5 cm (including the body) and a body length of 1.5 cm. The female Latrodectus mactans has a shiny black coloration with a red marking on the abdomen that resembles an hourglass. The nonvenomous male is half the size of the female and is brown. L. mactans forms an irregular, untidy, three-dimensional web to trap and envenomate its prey. These shy spiders are often found in woodpiles, ground cover, crevices, garages, barns, and outhouses.

Lawrence B. Stack, M.D.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232

Citing Articles (2)

Citing Articles

1. 1

   O'Malley, Gerald F., Dart, Richard C., Kuffner, Edwin F., . (1999) Successful Treatment of Latrodectism with Antivenin after 90 Hours. New England Journal of Medicine 340:8, 657-657
   Full Text

2. 2

   Matthews, Elizabeth T., . (1997) Black Widow Spider. New England Journal of Medicine 337:17, 1248-1248
   Full Text

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