Head to head
Noble False Widow vs Black Widow Spider
Noble False Widow
VS Black Widow Spider
The noble false widow and black widow spider are two glossy dark spiders of tangled webs, but only one is a true widow with a dangerous venom.
| Noble False Widow | Black Widow Spider | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Steatoda nobilis | Latrodectus mactans |
| Size and appearance | A rounded, glossy dark brown to black body with a pale, skull-like mark on the abdomen | Females have a body of about 1.3 cm and a leg span of about 4 cm, while males are about half that size |
| Bite | Bites are uncommon and in most people cause only mild symptoms, similar to a wasp sting | Painful cramping, sweating, and nausea can follow a bite, though deaths are very rare |
| Venom | Not a true widow, and not closely related to the black widow | Latrotoxin, a neurotoxin about 15 times more potent by weight than a prairie rattlesnake's venom |
| Web | An untidy, tangled web in sheds, walls, fences, and window frames | A strong, messy, three-dimensional cobweb of tough silk, usually low down in a sheltered spot |
| Diet | Insects and other spiders, including other false widows | Flies, beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, other spiders, and occasionally small lizards |
| Origin and range | Native to Madeira and the Canary Islands, reached Britain in the nineteenth century, and now spreading across Europe | The southeastern and central United States and much of the Americas |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated, and increasing | Least Concern |
Noble False Widow vs Black Widow Spider: common questions
Is the noble false widow as dangerous as a black widow?
No, its bites are rare and in most people cause only mild symptoms, while the black widow's latrotoxin can cause painful cramping.
Why is it called a false widow?
It is named for its resemblance to the black widow, which it is not closely related to.
Where do they live?
The noble false widow lives in and around buildings in western Europe, while the black widow lives across the southeastern and central United States and much of the Americas.