MSGID: 1:317/3 6323685b   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    EPOD - a service of USRA   
      
   The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes   
   and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and   
   archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory   
   captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The   
   community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and   
   relevant links.   
      
      
    Black Widow Spider   
      
      September 15, 2022   
      
      
       Black Widow 1   
      
      Photographer:  Brian Toycen   
      Summary Author:  Brian Toycen   
      
      I recently came across this  black widow spider in my back yard in   
      Amarillo, Texas. This is the third one I’ve found this year. So, I’m   
      cautious when moving things around and always look for their   
      characteristic ‘messy’ web. Only the females are marked with the red   
      hourglass design.   
      Black widows are the most venomous spider in North America. Their venom   
      is around 15 times stronger than  rattlesnake venom.  Every year   
      approximately 2,500 people seek treatment for their bites. Fortunately,   
      they don’t inject much venom and are considered to present a high risk   
      only to the very young and very old.   
      This specimen is probably a Latrodectus hesperus, based on my location   
      in the Texas panhandle. There are currently 31 ‘widow’ spiders in the   
       Latrodectus genus and of these 5 are  black widows, 3 of which   
      are found in North America, Latrodectus variolus, the northern species;   
      Latrodectus mactans, the southern species, and Latrodectus hesperus,   
      the western species. Photo taken on August 20, 2022.   
      Photo details: Canon EOS 80D; exposure 1/250 second; ISO 640; f5.6;   
      focal length 200 mm.   
      
      Amarillo, Texas Coordinates: 35.2220 -101.8313   
      
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