Cannibalism in Black Widows

Cannibalism is commonly suggested to occur when food is limited, population levels are dense, and there is a high frequency of unrelated individuals within the population. Due to the recent exploitation of disturbed urban habitats by black widows, we remain interested in what factors drive conspecific predation in this urban pest. 

Johnson JC, *Halpin, R, & *Stevens D (2016)  Extreme developmental synchrony reduces sibling cannibalism in the black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus.  Animal Behaviour, 120: 61-66. Link Here

Johnson JC, *Trubl P, *Blackmore V & *Miles L  (2011) Male black widows court well-fed females more than starved

females:  silken cues indicate sexual cannibalism risk.  Animal Behaviour, 82(2):  383-390.  Link Here

Johnson JC, *Kitchen K, & Andrade MCB (2010)  Family affects sibling cannibalism in the black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus.  Ethology, 116: 1-8. Link Here