Latrodectus Hesperus, the scientific name for the Western Black Widow spider, can be broken down into its three roots:
Latro- is from Latin and means "servant" or "robber."
-dectus is from Greek and means "biting."
Hesperus is from Latin and means "western."
So the scientific classification name of the Latrodectus Hesperus (Western Black Widow means literally):
Western Biting Robber
Latrodectus hesperus was created in 1935.
Latrodectus mactans for southern black widow/ Latrodectus variolus for northern black widow, and Latrodectus hesperus for western black widows
The Black Widow spider's scientific name is Latrodectus Hesperus. That means western Black Widow spider.
The black widow spider, primarily belonging to the genus Latrodectus, is found in various habitats across the world, particularly in temperate regions. They thrive in dark, sheltered areas such as woodpiles, basements, and under rocks. The most common species, the Western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus), is prevalent in the western United States, while the Southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) is found in the southeastern U.S. and parts of the world.
Superdomain BiotaDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaSubkingdom BilateriaBranch ProtostomiaInfrakingdom EcdysozoaSuperphylum PanarthropodaPhylum ArthropodaSubphylum ArachnomorphaInfraphylum CheliceriformesSuperclass ChelicerataEpiclass EuchelicerataClass ArachnidaSubclass MicruraInfraclass MegoperculataOrder AraneaeSuborder OpisthothelaeInfraorder AraneomorphaeSuperfamily AraneoideaFamily TheridiidaeSubfamily LatrodectinaeGenus LatrodectusSpecies Latrodectus apicalis (Galapagos black widow spider).Species Latrodectus hesperus (Western black widow spider).Species Latrodectus variolus (Northern black widow spider).Species Latrodectus mactans(4) Subspecies Latrodectus mactans mactans(Southern black widow spider, black widow spider).(5) Subspecies Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus (European black widow spider, Mediterranean black widow spider).Subspecies Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus is sometimes considered as a different species: Latrodectus tredecimguttatus.
Latrodectus bishopi was created in 1775.
Latrodectus lilianae was created in 2000.
Latrodectus pallidus was created in 1872.
Latrodectus geometricus was created in 1841.
Latrodectus variolus was created in 1837.
Latrodectus mactans was created in 1775.
Wreck of the Hesperus was created in 2004.