Northern Black Widow

Latrodectus variolus, the northern black widow spider or northern widow, is a venomous species of spider in the genus Latrodectus of the family Theridiidae. The population is closely related to the red widow, Latrodectus bishopi.

In North America, the species is commonly found in Middle Atlantic states (New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland). During the April–May mating season, it can travel north along the coast as far as Massachusetts in summer, and rarely, in southern Ontario and southern Quebec, Michigan, and at least as far northwest as parts of Wisconsin.