Button spider

Taxobox
name = Button spiders
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
ordo = Araneae
familia = Theridiidae
genus = "Latrodectus"
range_

---

range_map_width = 250px
range_map_caption = range of "L. indistinctus"
range_map2 = Distribution.latrodectus.karooensis.1.png range_map2_width = 250px
range_map2_caption = range of "L. karooensis"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = Approx. 6, see article

The term button spider is a term used in southern Africa to refer to local members of the spider genus "Latrodectus", a subset of the family Theridiidae. These spiders are commonly known as widow spiders elsewhere in the world. There are approximately six "Latrodectus" species found in southern Africa--five of them native, one possibly imported. All species (like all members of "Latrodectus") are venomous to man, and whose 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 button spiders are divided into two groups; based roughly on 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" (karoo 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. geometricus" (house button spider)
* "L. rhodesienses" (Zimbabwe button spider)

"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. rhosesienses" 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.

External links

* [http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2005/april/buttonspider.htm Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman: The button spiders of southern Africa]
* [http://research.amnh.org/entomology/spiders/catalog/BIB5.html The World Spider Catalog]