The karakurt mainly catches insects and other similar animals in a tangled web.
K. Korlević · Croatia
Risk to humans
High riskSerious medical risk
A bite can cause severe local and systemic illness. Keep distance. If bitten, this is an emergency.
112 · if bittenThe Mediterranean black widow occurs in Georgia. This small black spider’s bite can cause severe pain.
Key facts in one look
- Size
- Female 7–15 mm
- Diet
- Insects in the web
- Status in Georgia
- Native
- Habitat
- Dry steppe / low vegetation
- Family
- Theridiidae
- Human risk
- High
The Mediterranean black widow (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) is found in Georgia and is a venomous spider. Its bite can cause severe pain and other symptoms; if it bites you, call 112. It has been recorded in Tbilisi, Shida Kartli, Kakheti and Samtskhe-Javakheti. Females are small, with a body length of 7–15 mm, excluding the legs. They often have red spots on the abdomen, although some adult females are entirely black. The species is also called the “black widow.” It was once considered a subspecies of Latrodectus mactans; today L. tredecimguttatus is a separate species.
Identification
Mediterranean black widow: how to identify it
The karakurt is a small, shiny black spider with an almost ball-shaped abdomen. Females often have red spots on their backs, though some spiders may be almost entirely black. Its web is irregular and tangled, not round.
The female’s body is about 7–15 mm long, and the male’s is 4–7 mm long. These measurements do not include the legs.
The female has a shiny black front part of the body and black legs. Her abdomen is almost round like a ball. She often has red spots on her back, usually in three rows running along her body. The scientific name tredecimguttatus means “thirteen-spotted.” The spots are not always bright red; they may be orange or yellowish. Some have few or no spots, making the abdomen look entirely black. There may also be a red spot underneath the abdomen, but it does not always have the hourglass shape seen in the American black widow. The male is much smaller than the female and often has whitish spots.
In Georgia, the red spots on adult females often get smaller or disappear completely. Only a thin white outline may remain where the spots were. So the absence of red spots does not rule out the Mediterranean black widow.
The karakurt usually weaves an irregular, tangled web close to the ground. Its web is unlike Argiope’s round web with a white zigzag. Adult females often hide in a sheltered spot rather than sit in the middle of the web.
The presence of the pale-colored Latrodectus pallidus has also been confirmed in Georgia: females have a whitish or pale yellow abdomen. Steatoda paykulliana, which is also found in Georgia, resembles the karakurt. Like the karakurt, it has a black abdomen, but a red or yellow stripe often runs along its front edge. Color alone is not enough to identify the species reliably; do not touch the spider.
Colour
BlackRedWhite
On the black abdomen, the spots on the back can vary with age and sex: juveniles and adult males may have red spots edged in white; in older females the spots can darken or disappear altogether.
Swatches are illustrative. Do not identify a species by colour alone.
Often confused with
This spider is found mainly in dry, open areas—steppes, semi-desert scrub, and sandy or pebbly places. It often builds its web close to the ground, among rocks and low plants.
Recorded (photo observations)field records
The Mediterranean black widow map takes regions from its records-by-region table. One record is enough for a region to be shaded on the map; a region with no records is not shaded. Record counts reflect observation effort, not population density.
Data: Reptiles.ge + iNaturalist · Methodology
Interactive map is loading.
- Field observation
- Several records in one spot
- Region with records
The female often hides in a shelter near her web. The karakurt does not seek out people; bites usually happen when someone accidentally touches the spider or it ends up in clothing or shoes. Do not pick up the spider with your hands. The female lays her eggs in a silk sac.
The Mediterranean black widow has not been assessed by the IUCN. It is not included in Georgia’s 2014 Red List.
K. Korlević · Armen Seropian · Zakro Songulashvili · Uros Vezenkovic · Irakli Dolidze · Julien · Ioane Rostiashvili · Sphoo · 0959kedi · Giorgi Iankoshvili
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most important questions about Mediterranean black widow.
Yes. Latrodectus tredecimguttatus has been confirmed in Georgia. That does not mean it is equally widespread in every region of the country.
Its presence has been confirmed in Georgia, including in Tbilisi, Shida Kartli, Kakheti and Samtskhe-Javakheti. It is found mainly in dry, open areas, often among rocks and low vegetation.
The Mediterranean black widow is a small black spider with a round abdomen. It may have no red spots, and its web is tangled. Color alone is not a reliable way to identify it—do not touch the spider.
The female’s body is about 7–15 mm long, and the male’s is 4–7 mm long. These measurements do not include the legs.
Yes. Karakurt venom is dangerous to people, and a bite can cause severe pain and other symptoms. Do not pick up the spider with your hands. If bitten, call 112 and seek medical care.
No. Latrodectus mactans is a North American species, while the presence of Latrodectus tredecimguttatus has been confirmed in Georgia. Older literature sometimes confused the two names.
No. The Mediterranean black widow is not included in Georgia’s 2014 Red List.
References
What this profile is based on
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
Prepared by the Reptiles.ge editorial team from the sources listed here.
