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Size
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Female black widow spiders grow much larger than the male of the species. In comparison to the female black widow, the male grows to one-fourth of her size. This makes eating the male after mating much easier.
Color
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A female black widow has a solid black coloring. During early stages of development, a female will have a gray or pale brown coloration. Likewise, the adult male shares the same coloration as an immature female. He typically has a brown or gray color.
Hourglass
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The most recognizable trait on a black widow is the color of the hourglass shape on the abdomen. While males may have a small hourglass, it has a yellow or orange color, whereas the female has a large, red hourglass on her abdomen.
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Does a Male Black Widow Look Different From a Female Black Widow?
Black widow spiders, known for the hourglass shape on the abdomen, have distinct differences between the male and female sex. A female black widow has a more common appearance, because after mating she eats her mate.