An Australian reader sent me this photo of a redback, the Aussie version of Latrodectus. So pretty! And with an egg sac!
That reminds me…this is a big week in the lab, I hope. My second generation black widows are looking ready for breeding, so that means I have to prepare the nuptials. I’m moving the females to a larger, cleaner container and giving them time to make a cozy web today. Tomorrow I’m giving them a feast — gotta fill ’em up so they aren’t hungry when a visitor comes calling. Then on Friday I’m introducing them to second generation males.
I’m a little nervous about that. As usual, males are less common than females — more of them die during development. But the big concern is sexual dimorphism. Latrodectus males are so much daintier and distinctly tinier than the females, so it could be a bloodbath in two days. I’ll record video of the event, and maybe if it isn’t too disappointing I’ll post it then.
Try playing some Barry White for the spiders.
Someone said that spider inspired the label of Bailey’s Bundarra ‘Hermitage’ (traditional name for Syrah/Shiraz in some parts of Australia) for its sheer power and richness. I loved that wine when I could still find and afford it.
Is it just me, or does that back look a little red? Wonder what its name is?
Why does that photo look AI?