Button spider
Encyclopedia
Button spider is a common name
used in southern Africa
to refer to local members of the spider
genus, Latrodectus, the family Theridiidae
. These spiders are also known as widow spider
s elsewhere in the world. There are approximately six Latrodectus species found in southern Africa
--five of them native, one is possibly imported. All species of Latrodectus are venomous to man, their bite constitutes a medical emergency. Envenomation by these spiders can be fatal to children and ill or infirm adults. Ordinarily, the body mass of a healthy adult is sufficient to dilute the venom to less than a fatal concentration.
The species are informally divided into two groups, based on their color:
The black button spiders are black in color (and generally adorned with red dorsal markings), and include the following species:
All of these spiders are native to southern Africa.
The brown button spiders are lighter in color than the black button spiders; there are two brown button species:
L. geometricus is found in many parts of the world (including in the United States
where it is known as the brown widow spider); it is unknown where this species' origins are. L. rhodesienses is native to Africa. Both brown button species have the famed hourglass markings of the black widow on their abdomens, but are generally lighter in color. The brown button spiders' venom is less toxic to humans than the venom of the black buttons.
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
used in southern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
to refer to local members of the spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
genus, Latrodectus, the family Theridiidae
Theridiidae
Theridiidae is a large family of spiders, also known as the tangle-web spiders, cobweb spiders and comb-footed spiders. The diverse family includes over 2200 species in over 100 genera) of three-dimensional space-web-builders found throughout the world...
. These spiders are also known as widow spider
Widow spider
Latrodectus is a genus of spider, in the family Theridiidae, which contains 31 recognized species. The common name widow spiders is sometimes applied to members of the genus due to the behavior of the female of eating the male after mating, although sometimes the males of some species are not eaten...
s elsewhere in the world. There are approximately six Latrodectus species found in southern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
--five of them native, one is possibly imported. All species of Latrodectus are venomous to man, their bite constitutes a medical emergency. Envenomation by these spiders can be fatal to children and ill or infirm adults. Ordinarily, the body mass of a healthy adult is sufficient to dilute the venom to less than a fatal concentration.
The species are informally divided into two groups, based on their color:
The black button spiders are black in color (and generally adorned with red dorsal markings), and include the following species:
- L. cinctus (east coast button spider)
- L. indistinctus (west coast button spider)
- L. karooensis (karooKarooThe Karoo is a semi-desert region of South Africa. It has two main sub-regions - the Great Karoo in the north and the Little Karoo in the south. The 'High' Karoo is one of the distinct physiographic provinces of the larger South African Platform division.-Great Karoo:The Great Karoo has an area of...
button spider) - L. renivulvatus (inland button spider)
All of these spiders are native to southern Africa.
The brown button spiders are lighter in color than the black button spiders; there are two brown button species:
- L. geometricusLatrodectus geometricusThe spider Latrodectus geometricus, commonly known as the brown widow, grey widow, or geometric button spider, is one of the widow spiders in the genus Latrodectus. As such, it is a "cousin" to the more famous Latrodectus mactans...
(house button spider) - L. rhodesienses (Zimbabwe button spider)
L. geometricus is found in many parts of the world (including in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where it is known as the brown widow spider); it is unknown where this species' origins are. L. rhodesienses is native to Africa. Both brown button species have the famed hourglass markings of the black widow on their abdomens, but are generally lighter in color. The brown button spiders' venom is less toxic to humans than the venom of the black buttons.