Spider with a heart on her back

The female black widow spider is known for the red hourglass shape on its underside.

Sometimes the red is replicated on the spider's back in the form of spots or assorted shapes.

The one I photographed here had three distinct hearts.

It was under a rock I overturned.

Female black widow spiders are the most venomous of spiders native to North America.

A bite from a black widow is seldom fatal to a healthy human.

The best thing to do if bitten by a black widow or a recluse spider is to wash the bite area thoroughly with soap and water as soon as possible.

This will help eliminate the threat of infection, which can become much more serious than the small amount of venom the spider has injected.

Blue mud daubers and praying mantises are predators of the black widow spider.