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 #1815918


Deee_42
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 Question about my spider

I have a black widow that my son found on the job 2 weeks ago, I did a lot of reading on them, I didnt plan to keep her but, shes in a critter keeper for now.
I also knew they can have several egg sacs with only one mating...wellll...this moring there is an eggsac in her web. Any easy way of getting this eggsac out? And HOW can I destroy it? I dont mind keeping the widow but, I dont want hundreds of babies.
08/01/08  01:04pm

 #1815927


DragonLord
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   Message To: Deee_42   In reference to Message Id: 1815918


 Question about my spider

Easy...

Carefully open the top of the critter carrier, reach in with a LONG (and I mean long) pair of forceps (tongs) and grab the eggsac. Sometimes the female may try to defend it (one of the few times you will see aggressive behavior in the widow), but in most cases she may just run deeper into the web.

The sac...well as cruel as it sounds but if JUST LAID, nymphs are not it it, you can slightly break it open and stick it in a jar of alcohol (isopropyl, ethyl etc.).

You could try putting it in a small medicine bottle, sealing that up and stick it in the freezer, but it may not get cold enough if the sac is well made...there is a chance it could insulate the eggs a bit.



08/01/08  01:12pm

 #1816115


Deee_42
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   Message To: DragonLord   In reference to Message Id: 1815927


 Question about my spider

Thankyou Dragonlord,,,I also thought of the freezer, I wanna make sure none hatch though...would flushing it work??
08/01/08  03:43pm

 #1816197


DragonLord
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   Message To: Deee_42   In reference to Message Id: 1816115


 Question about my spider

That might, but I am not too familiar with sewage systems to say that it wouldn’t end up hatching someplace if the sac was secure/watertight (usually for the length of time I would say it wouldn’t be, they are not air-tight after all).

No worries though about little widows making their way up under your toilet seat though...

I would still go with either

1. Alcohol (if you don’t have what I mentioned lying around, some "hootch" may do as well)

2. Freezing in a sealed container such as an old medicine/pill container.

What color is the sac? Is it white and fluffy or sort of dull brown/papery looking...
08/01/08  05:00pm

 #1816207


Deee_42
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   Message To: DragonLord   In reference to Message Id: 1816197


 Question about my spider

I can use alcohol, I will probably do it tomorrow. The sac is white, looks like a cottonball..I was watching her mess with it yesterday. I will try to get a pic of it now, it will take me a few to take the pic & download it.
08/01/08  05:12pm

 #1816236


Deee_42
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   Message To: Deee_42   In reference to Message Id: 1816207


 Question about my spider

Ok I just now took these pics, it looks like a mini cottonball lol...but I really want to get it out of there ASAP






08/01/08  05:30pm

 #1816278


ThatGuyImTheShadows
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   Message To: Deee_42   In reference to Message Id: 1816236


 Question about my spider

If Black Widows are found in your area, why not just hang the sac on twig and put it outside far from your house? Why kill all the hatchlings inside? Thats not really fair that youd kill them because you dont want them, especially since its a wild-caught spider. Give the spiderlings a chance and just take the sac outside if it can be done. I dont think Blacwidows care for their young for a certain right? Or do they? Either way, just release it and give the babies a chance, verses killing them because "you dont want them"....



Mike...
08/01/08  06:04pm

 #1816288


Deee_42
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   Message To: ThatGuyImTheShadows   In reference to Message Id: 1816278


 Question about my spider

I have never seen one around here, this one was found almost 2 hrs from my house. I do know of a place I could bring the sac that is far enough from my house, Ive even thought about releasing her too, just not sure yet
08/01/08  06:08pm

 #1816383


DragonLord
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   Message To: Deee_42   In reference to Message Id: 1816288


 Question about my spider

Well my suggestion was in response for a way to get rid of the egg sac, since that was what was asked. I wasn’t advocating it (just to get that out of the way).

Hard to tell from the photos, but it looks like that may be a Latrodectus mactans The "Southern Black Widow".

You have 4 species of Latrodectus in Florida (if that is where you are located...

* Latrodectus mactans, the southern black widow
* Latrodectus variolus, the northern black widow
* Latrodectus bishopi, the red widow
* Latrodectus geometricus, the brown widow



Obviously it is only one of the first two. Now, looking at the spider (hard to tell from your photos), is the hourglass split into two reddish triangles? It doesn’t appear to be, but again the angle doesn’t all full viewing.

The "Northern Widow" in most cases has the hourglass split in such manner and often times some remnants of red on the dorsal surface of the abdomen. But the egg sac is whiter in color. That one look brownish/papery.

Looks like an L. mactans from all I can see.
08/01/08  06:57pm

 #1816434


Deee_42
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   Message To: DragonLord   In reference to Message Id: 1816383


 Question about my spider

Ok, this spider was found near Orlando ( Central Fl )...the hourglass does seem to be split...to e it looks that way anyway.
Maybe you can tell by these other pics I took when my son first brought her home




Theres a bit of a glare from the flash.
There has been so many opinions about this spider...I never planned on having a spider, my son was at work & when he picked up a peice of lumber, it climbed across his hand & he brought it home in a cup.
Some ppl in other forums said to kill it...others said to just let her go, which I planned to do to begin with....others have said to keep her. I wont kill her, thats for sure...but I may release her in a wooded area a few miles from my house.
08/01/08  07:41pm

 #1817492


DragonLord
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   Message To: Deee_42   In reference to Message Id: 1816434


 Question about my spider

Most likely still l. mactans...

Letting it go in a wooded area away from where you live if you don’t want to keep it would be best. Or your son could release it near to where he works (if there is a wooded/quiet area around there). Be closer to the point of origin where it was found.

Though I’ve kept them over the years and they were not any trouble...
08/02/08  09:09pm


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