Aggressive-interspecific-behavior
Guides
Latrodectus geometricus
Brown Widow, Brown Button Spider, Grey Widow, Brown Black Widow, House Button Spider, Geometric Button Spider
Latrodectus geometricus, commonly known as the brown widow, is a widow spider in the family Theridiidae native to Africa with a cosmopolitan distribution due to human-mediated introduction. It is smaller and lighter in color than black widow species, with distinctive black-and-white geometric patterns on the dorsal abdomen and an orange-yellow hourglass marking ventrally. The species is notable for its highly aggressive behavior toward native black widow spiders in invaded ranges, actively seeking out and killing them rather than competing for resources. While possessing neurotoxic venom, its bites are significantly less dangerous to humans than those of black widows due to lower venom delivery.