black widow ...
A story today in the news about a black widow spider giving factory workers a shock when it crawled out of a delivery box. The South American stowaway hid in a crate of mechanical parts bound for construction company Miller UK in Cramlington, Northumberland.
After doing a bit of investigation on this spider, I thought I would share with you how black widows like to keep in touch:
Generally black widows do not keep in touch! Males must contact female, and he must approach carefully to avoid being eaten. He vibrates her web in a certain manner that she recognises, allowing him to approach her without risk.
She really has got the right idea, hasn't she!
16 comments:
Brrrrr!!!
(at my post you have already a limon tree to cheer yourself :)
I remember visiting my daughter once when she lived in California, she actually caught one so as I could see what it looked like....that is one experience that I could have done without!
We have those here in Canada. They used to like the kids' sandbox. I used to turn it over every spring and get out a few of them. One year, I caught two and put them in the same jar - the smaller one was rapidly killed. The bite is incredibly painful, swelling alarmingly and needing morphine for pain relief. Thankfully none of my family has ever been bitten.
Louise, Scary! I would rather see a snake or rat or fat slug than see a BW spider! Evidently they're around her, but I do NOT want to know about that...
We frequently find Black Widow spiders in our garden because they are quite common here in California. Knowing what habitat they prefer (dry, dark, woodpiles, beneath furniture) helps us to avoid them. They are beautiful in their own way, though.
Laura
EWWWW Louise! I HATE spiders. Icky!
(Good idea about the web though!)
Yuk! She is a sly little insect isn't she.
Hehe - that's one smart lady spider ;)
xxx
I don't like spiders either. Lucky there don't see many here. You get a few little ones that jump though!
I thought all female spiders ate the male after mating anyway!!! Serves 'em right!!!
Oh that gave me a fright.. even a picture of photo of a spider gives me the creeps and has me looking over my shoulder..
It will soon be spider season here.. better train Pickles to hunt them down!
Michele x
There is an award on my blog for you!
Twiggy x
Good grief .... when I visited Australia I looked for spiders everywhere and was certain the place would be crawling with them.
I just saw one piddly little thing in the rainforest and that was that....
But then again, they have a whole load of other stuff that can kill you ... box jelly fish, salties, cassowaries, apparently...
I digress ...
Just popping by your blog and it's a delight to read.
I think we could learn a lot from the little BW. Not that I'd want to meet one in person to get any tips.
Hi there..great post. I have left you an award on my blog ;-)
She really has got the right idea, hasn't she!
hehe made me giggle :)
Love Kristina XxX
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