The black widow spider and its varieties in the United States

The spiders of the genus Latrodectus, a member of the family Theridiidae, popularly known as the line-weavers or comb-footed spiders, are of world-wide distribution in tropical and sub-tropical latitudes. The genus " comprises those very interesting spiders which, under various local names, have been notorious in all ages and in all regions of the world where they occur on account of the reputed deadly nature of their bite." During several years past in this country they have received widespread attention under the popular name " Black Widow Spider" proposed some years ago by Prof. Comstock. Older popular names sometimes still applied to the form are " Hour-glass Spider," given in reference to the shape of the bright red spot under the abdomen, and " Shoe-button Spider," given in reference to the shining black upper surface of the globular abdomen of the female.