The black widow...

Black widow spiders, for better or worse, have a reputation for their deadly bites. They are the Spider of the Week as we focus on fangs and venom.

Notorious for their remarkably venomous bite, the black widow is one of the most feared spiders. The black widow gets it name from the female's practice of attacking and eating her mate after performing their mating routine. The female's shiny, ebony body -- branded with a red hourglass design on the ventral abdomen -- lies in sharp contrast to the smaller, harmless black widow males. The males are about half the size of the female and show yellow and red markings on their dorsal abdomen.

How many species? Approximately 2,000 In your backyard? Nearly 230 species in the United States Around the world? Found on every continent, except Antarctica

The red hourglass...