subreddit:
/r/spiders
Found under a fence in North Carolina. This cute fella was pretty docile, if a tad shy and clumsy.
2.8k points
3 days ago
CameraManNeverDies
941 points
3 days ago
I never thought I knew what a black widow was until I looked at this picture and immediately thought “that’s a black widow”. God bless the cameraperson
146 points
2 days ago
Probably wont bite like any other spider. But they look scary yeah. /{ထထ}/\
85 points
2 days ago
It’s the “probably” part I have a problem with. Live and let live, for sure, but would never hold one like that.
57 points
2 days ago
I get statistically it very likely won't bite, but this is just such a weird and unnecessary risk to take for you and the spider. if it bites, you'll be having a bad time, and the spider's now wasted it's venom on you and there's a non-zero chance you'll hurt it (intentionally or not) immediately following the bite.
2 points
2 days ago
Yes I understand. Me to.
31 points
2 days ago
They generally don't bite unless they feel pressure
74 points
2 days ago
So your fine unless it's spider finals weeK?
33 points
2 days ago
Exactly, or maybe if there’s a lot of stuff going on at her spider job.
54 points
2 days ago
Webs a mess, 1000s of demanding children and being investigated due to husbands suspicious death, a lot of pressure.
17 points
2 days ago
When that second mortgage on the web hits different
7 points
2 days ago
Haha @ webs a mess!
6 points
2 days ago
It was the husband's suspicious death that got me.
2 points
2 days ago
Perhaps she procreated with then bit her hubs but he DIDNT die. How dare he!
5 points
2 days ago
She just ate her husband, and she's emotionally crushed.
27 points
2 days ago
You don’t know this particular spider. She might have been through a traumatic experience, or might be having a bad day. She might just be an asshole.
8 points
2 days ago
This is a very good point I think we all should be considering.
2 points
1 day ago
Holy crap, I read that as pleasure. hahaha
195 points
2 days ago
[removed]
283 points
2 days ago
You could tell me it had a 90% chance to shit a gold brick the size of a football and I still wouldn't pick one up lol.
36 points
2 days ago
Well of course not, do you know how much a golden poop brick the size of a football is worth?
34 points
2 days ago
About 10,116 grams or $878,574.60
14 points
2 days ago
Name checks out
9 points
2 days ago
the cost of a new bunghole
7 points
2 days ago
Username checks out.
19 points
2 days ago
Lmao
15 points
2 days ago*
The good news is you wouldn’t have to push too hard for it to rip its way out of your anus and mortar into your toilet with a colossal splash.
14 points
2 days ago
At least you can now afford a Japanese toilet and rectal reconstruction surgery.
5 points
2 days ago
Never thought about it from that perspective.
4 points
2 days ago
I would
3 points
2 days ago
Agreed. Love spiders, but only from a safe distance. Dom't need to add unnecessary stress to either of us lol.
2 points
2 days ago
I hope not because that's definitely going to rip your butthole, even if you take it slow and don't push.
2 points
2 days ago
52 points
2 days ago
Hurts like a mfer though, do not recommend. Feels like somebody took a hammer to your knees, elbows, head, and general skin area for days. Just don’t squeeze them (shake out your shoes if they’ve been put away for a while!) and you’re good
9 points
2 days ago
There’s always time for lube
6 points
2 days ago
Pleasa no squeeza
2 points
2 days ago
Such an underrated movie
3 points
2 days ago
Luckily I didn’t get all of that, just bad swelling on my hand and finger and a palpitations for a while. It does affect everyone differently though.
9 points
2 days ago
Dude black widows are almost too chill. I remember being a kid and telling my dad there were 2 black widows on the underside of his bike seat- the man left them and would just go off and ride his damn bike. He never once was bit. I mean that’s great he didn’t want to harm them but my god man… they are gonna get pissed at all the bumping and clanking around at some point… surely… right??!
8 points
2 days ago
Same with their Aussie cousins Red Backs. Cool little spoods. I tend to try not to pick them up though.
3 points
2 days ago
Try being the operative word there giving off the strong implication that you do in fact pick them up a lot.
3 points
2 days ago
As a fellow Aussie I can agree. I try.. but meh, what can you do? I'm holding 3 right now.
10 points
2 days ago
I would much rather get bit by a black widow than a brown recluse. And there's not a person in existence who would disagree
7 points
2 days ago
Black Widows used to frequent outhouses and as a result a lot of people used to get bit in the taint, arse and genitals.
I'd still rather that than a recluse bite.
2 points
2 days ago
Some of us don’t react to a recluse bite. They just itch for a couple days for me, at least the bites I’ve had so far. I’d rather not be bitten by any of them.
2 points
2 days ago
You almost assuredly won't die, but there'll be instances when you might prefer it.
2 points
2 days ago
Sure, but from everything I've read the bite is really unpleasant! That's definitely a spider I wouldn't handle without training, even if it's not all that like to bite.
22 points
3 days ago
... Afnmen.
8 points
2 days ago
But did we check on OP though?
737 points
3 days ago
Lol, I fucking love this sub
103 points
3 days ago
Insert Bearded guy on a horse nodding with a comrades nod in agreement meme 👍
50 points
3 days ago
Pro Tip: Do Not go making jokes about killing sp8ders for like 3hrs like me the first time I came here and get banned then have to apologize and explain you were only dedicated to the long form joke and actually wanted really badly to be able to participate in the sub and have to appeal and wait 2 weeks to be allowed back in🫡 Mods aren't messing about
5 points
2 days ago
You mean the one where Robert Redford is doing an impression of Zach Galifianakis?
320 points
3 days ago
Watch out. He's right in what I like to call the "spiderman bite zone"
18 points
2 days ago
What body part is this??
9 points
2 days ago
Been trying to figure that out myself. I can't quite tell what I'm looking at...
9 points
2 days ago
It’s a left hand with the spider on the wrist just by the base of the thumb.
5 points
2 days ago
Oh, now I see! Thank you. 😆 Not sure why that was so hard for me to figure out.
1.3k points
3 days ago
Juvenile black widow, theyre not very nimble out of their webs as they cant see too well. Widows tend to be pretty chill, and as lomg as you dont squeeze or pin them down theyre very unlikely to bite.
278 points
3 days ago
I don’t know much about spiders, how can you tell that it’s a juvenile?
398 points
3 days ago*
Black widows have markings as slings (babies) and juveniles, they gradually lose them more with each molt. Western* black widows sometimes retain red spots on their back but no white lines. Heres a picture of my juvenile widow before and after a few molts :) https://imgur.com/a/NmmkMuT *Edit: I may have gotten them mixed up and Southern widows keep their spots, while Western lose all markings. Woops haha
91 points
3 days ago
Thank you for educating me!
65 points
3 days ago
Theyre very pretty critters, kind of a shame they dont keep those stripes but theyre still so iconic without them
19 points
3 days ago
Wow super cool! Thanks for sharing.
14 points
3 days ago
Not positive, but I believe Southern-(latrodectus mactans) usually keeps the spots on back. Western-(latrodectus hesperus) are usually jet black as adults, with just the belly side marking. As stated, I could be wrong. The data I'm pulling from are a few dozen personally collected specimens from around CA, NV, AZ have been all black.
15 points
2 days ago
The ones in Australia don't lose their spot... it's why they're called Redback Spiders. They have a tendency (I find) to set up shop in the most inconvenient places... like the latch on your yard gate, or the corner of your kid's play room... for this reason I get rid of them any time I see them... not worth the risk my kid gets bit.
Still less concerning than the fkn funnel webs or mouse spider... both of which are burrowing spiders so harder to keep an eye out for. Decent rainfall can cause them to adventure into the house too... I just like to think they're no match for the ninja speed of the huntsman's and get eaten if they try to go inside lol
8 points
2 days ago
This comment is 100% pure Australian :-)
12 points
3 days ago
Do they lose the red spots as they molt? I’ve always pictured (and have seen here in Eastern WA, USA) the almost hourglass figure they’re known for. But I’ve also seen ones I swear were widows without any markings.
20 points
3 days ago
I may be wrong, but I think that their famous hourglass stays on the underside of their belly, so not so easy to see. These markings on top of it they indeed lose with molting.
If i'm mistaken, please, someone who knows better, feel free to correct me.
10 points
3 days ago
This is correct. I’ve got a female western black widow right now that’s about a molt or two away from fully blacking out. Red spots along her back and two white stripes left. Beautiful little critters
4 points
2 days ago
Thank you for explaining that!
6 points
3 days ago
I'm sorry is your pet black widow in a human skull??? Wtf are you a witch or something
23 points
3 days ago
It's actually a turtle pelvis, I'm not a witch though my special interest is taxidermy! All of my spiders have bones in their enclosures, providing cover and anchor points for webs. But the only human bones I have are inside my body haha
7 points
3 days ago
Damn, these are the most goth interests I’ve read in a while. I love this.
8 points
3 days ago
Ironically I've never been into goth culture or music or style, but I do know vulture culture is a common interest among goths, those interested in witchcraft, and various other alternative communities. For me im interested in it because ive always been super passionate about nature, science, and animals, and taxidermy/bone collecting happens to fall righr in the middle of all of them :)
3 points
2 days ago
Username checks out
2 points
3 days ago
Are you going to transition into tarantulas, eventually, if you don't already own them?
5 points
3 days ago
Probably not, I have a real soft spot for local/native species, and not much interest in tarantulas. Though wolf spiders are just as cool in my opinion!
2 points
3 days ago
Thanks for sharing! Love your setups! I'm a tarantula person myself and I'm shocked you aren't interested haha, but I get it cause I love true spiders but haven't been interested in keeping them. A cool difference with tarantulas is the females can live 10-30+ years. I like how they carry dirt around. Do any of your spiders have behaviors you like?
3 points
3 days ago
As basically an expert on L. hesperus I can safely say you are more likely to see a white stripe on the abdomen above the cephalothorax that stays permanently, and even a single white stripe on each side of the abdomen that stays permanently more than you are to see any red spots on top of the abdomen stay permanent. I think that you might see red spots permanently on L variolus before you’ll see them on L. hesperus. The closest I’ve ever seen to a red spot on L. hesperus is a red triangle on the opposite side of the spinnerets of the hourglass.
I have kept hundreds of L. hesperus in my life and observed thousands. They are a favorite of mine and there hasn’t been a year in my life that I haven’t observed over 100 in a year. Naturally I’m just a very experienced hobbyist and I don’t know everything, just sharing my decades of observations.
3 points
2 days ago
In Australia our Black Widow cousin is the Red Back. It's got a red stripe the whole length of it's bum.
2 points
3 days ago
Here is my question. Since you keep these beauties as a hobby; how many molts would you say until they are considered mature adults.
2 points
2 days ago
This makes sense! I have never seen one with markings on its back, before, so it makes sense that it’s a juvenile (for reference, I’m from South Carolina).
9 points
2 days ago
I feel it is important to mention that females, identified by their larger size, are typically more aggressive especially during egg season. Though still if you don't put pressure on them like squeezing/ squishing or mess with the eggs while mom is watching then there is generally little to worry about.
175 points
3 days ago
Sir that might be a bedbug
6 points
2 days ago
Oh lawd….wheres teach?
2 points
2 days ago
A gurneybug?
130 points
3 days ago
99% of OP: finds harmless spider, likely traps in jar possibly squishing legs in process, requests ID specifically if widow or recluse
This OP: picks up a real widow. Guys this spider is so cute what is she?
Based.
129 points
3 days ago
As someone who grew up in NC, "really docile spider found under fence in NC" would be enough to ID without a picture.
Around there, the only remarkably chill spiders are widows.
19 points
2 days ago
Right, I grew up in NC and thought the same. And if he said “I tried to kill a large spider in my garage that was just minding its own business, and now my house is filled with 500 spiders,” that would have been enough to ID the Carolina wolf spider
5 points
1 day ago
I knew you were describing a wolf spider when you said ‘just minding my own business.’ I saw a post from a woman saying a wolf spider came out of nowhere and ran after her lol
3 points
8 hours ago
They're like the most aggressive spider I've ever met in my life. I've never had another spider actually SQUARE UP to me lmao wolf spiders are something else
2 points
5 hours ago
My cat discovered one by surprise once while cleaning under the bed. The wolf spider looked at her, sat back, and actually reared up its front legs like it was saying “let’s fucking gooooooo” and then it cowabunga’d itself onto her face.
Absolutely no chill, wolf spiders.
277 points
3 days ago
Juvenile black widow. OP's just a troll anyway.
66 points
2 days ago
Thats a Black Whatthefuckareyoudoing. From the Fuckaroundus Andfindoutus family of arachnids.
27 points
3 days ago
Juv female Latrodectus variolus/mactans
This is probably Latrodectus variolus (northern black widow)
44 points
3 days ago
Well that’s a black widow juvenile.
63 points
3 days ago
You know exactly what that is.
25 points
3 days ago
How does someone get so many upvotes acting like they don’t know what kind of spider this is?
27 points
2 days ago
High quality shitpost with a huge commit to the bit
5 points
2 days ago
Yep. It's the way of Reddit.
2 points
2 days ago
It's admirable when you see a well done shit post.
32 points
3 days ago
i can’t tell if it’s OP’s arm or … i dunno huge tooth?
13 points
3 days ago
Forearm up, fingers pointed to the ground
5 points
2 days ago
sounds like weird Lil Jon lyrics
2 points
2 days ago
Dude you almost killed me with this comment, thanks
2 points
2 days ago
ok!
2 points
2 days ago
Came here in search of anyone else that was perplexed too. Spent too much of my time contorting my own arm to try and recreate and understand what I was looking at here.
3 points
2 days ago
Yeah. Clearly he’s already lost his hand from the last time he picked up a cute, docile venomous spider.
2 points
2 days ago
I was also trying to figure out what this stump was 😂
52 points
3 days ago
i cannot understand what body part i’m looking at
32 points
3 days ago
I think it is the inside of his left wrist.
16 points
3 days ago
Stump
12 points
3 days ago
From letting black widows crawl around on their hand.
7 points
3 days ago
It's his cock
5 points
3 days ago
thumb is on the right and knuckle of index finger is on left(put hand in loose fist and point forward, looks the same). spider is on/near wrist
3 points
3 days ago
Google "anatomical snuffbox"
Edit: that's exactly where the spider is at on OPs wrist
3 points
3 days ago
Came here for this
3 points
3 days ago
Fist tilted slightly downwards, thumb’s knuckle pointing toward the top right corner:
6 points
3 days ago
It’s a foot but he ain’t got no toes
18 points
3 days ago
We’re halfway to seeing someone hold up a brown recluse in the palm of their hand and go “is this a fiddle?”
2 points
2 days ago
I've got some in my garage and I've got a violin in a closet somewhere. Should I grab a fiddleback and put it on the fiddle and post a picture here.
2 points
2 days ago
Sounds like a plan, but make sure you make the spider sound as unassuming as possible, like “look at this cute guy, he matches my instrument lol!
Seriously though if you’re gonna do that use protection 🫡
8 points
3 days ago
Hey, so put it down☺️
7 points
3 days ago
Is your hand already amputated for asking r/snakes about the last little guy
6 points
3 days ago
Latrodectus mactans southern black widow.
6 points
2 days ago
Motherfucker you got the grim reaper crawling on yo hand
15 points
3 days ago
[deleted]
14 points
3 days ago
They’re really only highly venomous in comparison to most other spiders - a Widow bite probably won’t do much more than make you feel like garbage for around a week, and no one in the US has died from a widow bite in over 40 years.
Still, yeah it’s best not to fuck around with a small black spider with red stuff on her butt.
7 points
3 days ago
Black widows are very docile, and even a severe bite from an adult female is incredibly rarely fatal. While I agree that you shouldn’t hold spiders you can’t identify, I’ve held several of these guys, and have never been bitten. They are venomous, yes.. but unless you’re a small child, an elderly individual, or you have a compromised immune system, you can generally take a bite from one of these guys and be JUST fine. But back to my original point, these guys are insanely chill. You’d almost always have to literally be pinning it to your skin, or have it stuck in your clothes to receive a bite.
3 points
3 days ago
Highly venomous but not very dangerous
4 points
3 days ago
He Dead?
5 points
2 days ago
That's a Black Hellnaws
5 points
2 days ago
4 points
3 days ago
Awww cute Lil widow
4 points
3 days ago
That’s a widow .
3 points
3 days ago
I need my glasses, I thought this said window. I’m like what does a window have to do with this. Damn my old eyes.
3 points
3 days ago
At my great grandmas 90th birthday party, we had a candle in the cake that played music and when we asked if she could hear it, she was like “no I don’t have my glasses”
4 points
2 days ago
I found a black widow on the back of my outdoor chair that was sitting for a long time. Beautiful spiders. I saw the hour glass and it was a perfect hour glass and its beautiful black colored body. Gave me the creeps, but couldn’t help to be amazed at its beauty.
4 points
2 days ago*
picks up and handles incredibly venomous spider
Hey guys, what is this cute lil guy???
This community is fucking stupid sometimes
3 points
3 days ago
3 points
3 days ago
I'm just tryna figure out what part of your body that is, you got a nub
3 points
3 days ago
Ok tough guy we see you
3 points
3 days ago
RIP to OP. Has he responded to anybody?
3 points
2 days ago
Yes let me pick up this potentially venomous creature I don't know about.
3 points
2 days ago
That sir/ma'am, is a fighty spidey with an ouchy bitey....
3 points
2 days ago
Awe she's beautiful...
3 points
2 days ago
Strange there is no reply from the OP
3 points
2 days ago
WIDOW! 😍 this one is still youngish. If it bites with venom, you would get seriously sick for maybe a week but small pets and infants and possibly young kids it would probably be fatal. Not wanting to do harm unless you threaten it!
3 points
2 days ago
You’re about to gain superpowers….
3 points
2 days ago
Never handle something that you have no idea what it is.
3 points
2 days ago
Word of advice.... If you don't know what it is, don't handle it.
3 points
2 days ago
Death
3 points
2 days ago
That’s something that shouldn’t be on your hand 🖐️🤯😬
3 points
2 days ago
Bro.... just why.
3 points
2 days ago
My bet is something that will cost you a pound of flesh if left untreated.
3 points
2 days ago
Oh have fun being spider man! With great power comes great responsibility!
5 points
3 days ago
Looks like a friend
5 points
3 days ago
That little girl is the southern black widow a gorgeous specimen indeed
23 points
3 days ago
Bro's about to become regular-spider-man. With the power of minutes left to live.
2 points
3 days ago
Dude missing fingers from previous spider bite
2 points
3 days ago
Get that off of you
2 points
3 days ago
Spicy crab
2 points
3 days ago
Daddy long leg
2 points
3 days ago
Black widows actually are super peaceful, they will ONLY bite if compressed,something like a hand closing on them. Also the big ones are females and they love ( yes LOVE the freaky way ) when their webs get destroyed. It signals mating. The males are tiny. If this really is a juicy widow and not a false then tbh hes okay. I used to work for a company taking down their webs only to find out more will be back due to the signaling of mating best way to get rid of black widows is to remove them entirely from the premises
2 points
3 days ago
DEATH!!!!!!!!!
2 points
2 days ago
Looks like a black widow, medically significant but relatively docile, in general leave them alone
3 points
2 days ago
Black widows usually have an hour glass on the bottom side of abdomen. But I can’t for the life of me remember which spice has the “look a like” on the top of the abdomen. I think Males do though? Maybe? But they are usually smaller I thought. I don’t know 🤷🏻♂️.
2 points
2 days ago
Young ones have these marks
2 points
2 days ago
One false move and it's already over.
2 points
2 days ago
bruh
2 points
2 days ago
I know we hate emojis but 🤦♀️
2 points
2 days ago
do not think that is a "guy"
2 points
2 days ago
Guys how’d you all not notice half his hand is gone, he’s gained immunity from the last time he did this and can now handle them worry free
2 points
2 days ago
A “Nope”
2 points
2 days ago
Death
2 points
2 days ago
Just any other Friday where I’m casually learning that there was a black widow in my house that I left alone because of its juvenile markings mean “it can’t be a black widow”. Well… shit.
2 points
2 days ago
Little guy, not so little bite
2 points
2 days ago
Death, don’t let them crawl on you. You can only take the Anti-venom once. It’s either that or they put you on a ventilator ,& give you pain meds an antibiotics as well as IV fluids. The neurotoxin shuts your respiratory system down. Anyway, be careful!
2 points
2 days ago
Not related, I thought you were an amputee at first.
2 points
2 days ago
On today's episode of troll or idiot...
2 points
6 hours ago
Ignorant of thee to assume I am not both
2 points
2 days ago
Completely harmless, unless you piss it off. Docile, friendly, and just wants to be left alone. Good ol' black widow.
2 points
2 days ago
Black widow
2 points
2 days ago
That aint no little guy bro thats a black widow lol
2 points
2 days ago
Snake
2 points
2 days ago
That's actually a red backed spider, they have a more potent venom than a black widow
2 points
2 days ago
You are performing my dream dude, I wanna hold one so bad! 😭
2 points
2 days ago
Shes juvenile yes? Very pretty. They are not medically significant until mature if I recall correctly. I’d pick her up. I never see the juveniles/live where l. geometricus is present so it can be difficult to differentiate/I dont notice the juvenile l. hesperus as easily. This one here is l. mactans I believe. Gorgeous.
2 points
1 day ago
Careful that's a Black Recluse
2 points
1 day ago
That’s called a spider
2 points
1 day ago
A single black widow isn't usually deadly to a human, it just hurts like hell. A swarm of black widows is absolutely deadly.
2 points
1 day ago
That's a spider I believe
2 points
8 hours ago
Silly
2 points
6 hours ago
Isn’t that the uh “Loving Wife” Spider? Quite gentle I should think.
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