What is "latrodectism"

n. (context medicine English) A condition caused by the bite of a widow spider (genus ''Latrodectus'')

Latrodectism is the illness caused by the bite of Latrodectus spiders (the black widow spider and related species). Pain, muscle rigidity, vomiting, and sweating are the hallmarks of latrodectism. Contrary to popular conception, latrodectism is very rarely fatal to people. Domestic cats have been known to die with convulsion and paralysis.

There are several spider species all named black widow: southern black widow spider (L. mactans), the European black widow (L. tredecimguttatus), Western black widow spider (L. hesperus), Northern black widow spider (L. variolus). Other Latrodectus that cause latrodectism are the Australian redback spider (L. hasselti), and the katipo spider (L. katipo). Several other members of Latrodectus genus are not commonly associated with latrodectism including the cosmopolitan brown widow (L. geometricus).