Latrodectus bishopi is the scientific name for the red widow spider, which is endemic to the Florida scrub habitat of central and southern Florida, where it lives primarily in sand dunes dominated by sand pine, Pinus clausa – a type of vegetation found only in Florida and coastal Alabama.
The red widow, L. bishopi, has a red-orange cephalothorax, its abdomen is black with yellow rings outlining the rows of red spots and its legs are vermillion red. On its underside, it does not have the familiar hourglass marking and instead usually has one or two small red marks.[2] Females are almost double the size of the male.
Taxonomyedit
The species was first described in 1938 by B. J. Kaston as the variety bishopi of the species Latrodectus mactans.[1][3] The name bishopi honors Marshall B. Bishop who collected the specimens on which the description was based.[3]Latrodectus bishopi was raised to a full species in 1964 by John D. McCrone and Herbert W. Levi.[1] It can be distinguished from L. mactans by features of the male and female genitalia: the embolus of the male palpal bulb has one fewer loop as do the connecting ducts leading to the female spermatheca.[4]
Distribution and Ecologyedit
L. bishopi is endemic to central and southern Florida. It is restricted to sand-pine scrub – inland areas of dry sand dunes dominated by sand pine, Pinus clausa. Within these areas, the species makes most of its webs in palmetto bushes (Serenoa repens and Sabal etonia) at heights of 30 cm or more above the ground.[4] The species is a known predator of Hemisphaerota cyanea.[5]
Toxicityedit
L. bishopi has been reported to be venomous like the other Latrodectus members,[6] and although no bites by this spider are recorded in the medical literature, a bite has been captured on video and documented by Youtuber MyWildBackyard on April 15, 2023. The bite resulted in a mildly painful throbbing sensation that lasted several hours. Unlike cosmopolitan species such as the black and brown widows, it seldom comes into contact with humans. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the spider's venom has been measured in mice as 2.20 mg/kg (with a confidence interval of 1.29-3.74), and each spider contains about 0.157 mg.[7]
^ abc"Taxon details Latrodectus bishopi Kaston, 1938". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
^Castner, James. "Black Widow Spider". Featured Creatures. University of Florida. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
^ abKaston, B.J. (1938). "Notes on a new variety of black widow spider from southern Florida". Florida Entomologist. 21 (4): 60–62. doi:10.2307/3492683.
^ abMcCrone, J.D. & Levi, H.W. (1964). "North American widow spiders of the Latrodectus curacaviensis group (Araneae: Theridiidae)". Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 71: 12–27. doi:10.1155/1964/86469.
^Carrel, James E.; Deyrup, Mark (March 2014). "Red Widow Spiders (Araneae: Theridiidae) Prey Extensively on Scarab Beetles Endemic in Florida Scrub". Florida Entomologist. 97 (1): 130–137. doi:10.1653/024.097.0155. ISSN 0015-4040. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^Hollenbeck, Jeff. "Species Latrodectus bishopi - Red Widow". bugguide. Iowa State University. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
^McCrone, J.D. (1964). "Comparative lethality of several Latrodectus venoms". Toxicon. 2 (3): 201–203. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(64)90023-6.
^Skerl, Kevin. "Spider Conservation in the United States". University of Michigan. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
External linksedit
1 Flickr.com: photos
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Latrodectus bishopi.
January 01, 1970
latrodectus, bishopi, scientific, name, widow, spider, which, endemic, florida, scrub, habitat, central, southern, florida, where, lives, primarily, sand, dunes, dominated, sand, pine, pinus, clausa, type, vegetation, found, only, florida, coastal, alabama, wi. Latrodectus bishopi is the scientific name for the red widow spider which is endemic to the Florida scrub habitat of central and southern Florida where it lives primarily in sand dunes dominated by sand pine Pinus clausa a type of vegetation found only in Florida and coastal Alabama Red widow spider Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Chelicerata Class Arachnida Order Araneae Infraorder Araneomorphae Family Theridiidae Genus Latrodectus Species L bishopi Binomial name Latrodectus bishopiKaston 1938 1 Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 3 Distribution and Ecology 4 Toxicity 5 Conservation Status 6 References 7 External linksDescription edit nbsp Specimen bred in captivity The red widow L bishopi has a red orange cephalothorax its abdomen is black with yellow rings outlining the rows of red spots and its legs are vermillion red On its underside it does not have the familiar hourglass marking and instead usually has one or two small red marks 2 Females are almost double the size of the male Taxonomy editThe species was first described in 1938 by B J Kaston as the variety bishopi of the species Latrodectus mactans 1 3 The name bishopi honors Marshall B Bishop who collected the specimens on which the description was based 3 Latrodectus bishopi was raised to a full species in 1964 by John D McCrone and Herbert W Levi 1 It can be distinguished from L mactans by features of the male and female genitalia the embolus of the male palpal bulb has one fewer loop as do the connecting ducts leading to the female spermatheca 4 Distribution and Ecology editL bishopi is endemic to central and southern Florida It is restricted to sand pine scrub inland areas of dry sand dunes dominated by sand pine Pinus clausa Within these areas the species makes most of its webs in palmetto bushes Serenoa repens and Sabal etonia at heights of 30 cm or more above the ground 4 The species is a known predator of Hemisphaerota cyanea 5 Toxicity editL bishopi has been reported to be venomous like the other Latrodectus members 6 and although no bites by this spider are recorded in the medical literature a bite has been captured on video and documented by Youtuber MyWildBackyard on April 15 2023 The bite resulted in a mildly painful throbbing sensation that lasted several hours Unlike cosmopolitan species such as the black and brown widows it seldom comes into contact with humans The median lethal dose LD50 of the spider s venom has been measured in mice as 2 20 mg kg with a confidence interval of 1 29 3 74 and each spider contains about 0 157 mg 7 Conservation Status editL bishopi is a threatened species in the United States 8 References edit a b c Taxon details Latrodectus bishopi Kaston 1938 World Spider Catalog Natural History Museum Bern Retrieved 2016 01 31 Castner James Black Widow Spider Featured Creatures University of Florida Retrieved 20 September 2018 a b Kaston B J 1938 Notes on a new variety of black widow spider from southern Florida Florida Entomologist 21 4 60 62 doi 10 2307 3492683 a b McCrone J D amp Levi H W 1964 North American widow spiders of the Latrodectus curacaviensis group Araneae Theridiidae Psyche A Journal of Entomology 71 12 27 doi 10 1155 1964 86469 Carrel James E Deyrup Mark March 2014 Red Widow Spiders Araneae Theridiidae Prey Extensively on Scarab Beetles Endemic in Florida Scrub Florida Entomologist 97 1 130 137 doi 10 1653 024 097 0155 ISSN 0015 4040 Retrieved 9 November 2022 Hollenbeck Jeff Species Latrodectus bishopi Red Widow bugguide Iowa State University Retrieved 20 September 2018 McCrone J D 1964 Comparative lethality of several Latrodectus venoms Toxicon 2 3 201 203 doi 10 1016 0041 0101 64 90023 6 Skerl Kevin Spider Conservation in the United States University of Michigan Retrieved 2017 12 18 External links edit1 Flickr com photos nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Latrodectus bishopi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Latrodectus bishopi amp oldid 1213502860, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
