Although they are not particularly aggressive, they have developed a reputation worldwide as a killer species though bites from these spiders have a tendency to be defensive rather than offensive. Effective anti-venom is also readily available, so fatalities from these spiders are actually relativity rare.
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Our new black widow (L. mactans) was discovered in Oxhill, Warwickshire in a shipment of furniture last Thursday (Aug 30th).
She is settling in well and we at the Butterfly Farm are very pleased to have her in our bio-hazard enclosure.