Latrodectus bishopi
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| Latrodectus bishopi Red widow spider |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Family: | Theridiidae |
| Genus: | Latrodectus |
| Species: | L. bishopi |
| Binomial name | |
| Latrodectus bishopi (Fabricius, 1775) |
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Latrodectus bishopi is the scientific name for the red widow spider which is endemic to certain habitats of Florida where it lives underneath palmetto leaves, primarily in sand pine scrub, a type of vegetation found only in peninsular Florida.
[edit] Description
The red widow, Latrodectus bishopi, has a red-orange cephalothorax, its abdomen is black with yellow rings outlining the rows of red spots and its legs are vermillion red. On its underside, it does not have the familiar hourglass marking, but a small red bar.
- Venom
Latrodectus bishopi is believed to be venomous like the other Latrodectus members, though no bites by this spider are recorded in the medical literature; unlike cosmopolitan species such as the black and brown widows, it seldom comes into contact with humans.
- Threatened species
Latrodectus bishopi, the red widow spider, is a threatened species in the United States.
[edit] External links
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