Deathstalker vs Black Widow: How to Tell the Differences

What is the difference between Deathstalker vs Black Widow?

Deathstalker and Black widow are insects that are considered venomous. The venom from the insects contains a poisonous substance which sometimes results in fatalities. The bite from the insects has numerous effects on humans and other animals that they bite.

The main difference between deathstalker and black widow is that deathstalker has a painful sting but few people may die from it while black widow has unusually large venom glands and its bite can be fatal.

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Deathstalker vs Black Widow

Comparison Table (Deathstalker Vs Black Widow)

Characteristics Deathstalker Black widow
Geographical location They are found in the Middle East and North Africa. They are found in every continent except Antarctica.
Venom Their stings carry low doses of venom hence not fatal. Their stings carry very high doses of venom hence very deadly.
Behavior They are aggressive. They are timid and not aggressive.
Color They are yellow in color. Their color ranges from orange, red-black, white, and brown.
Gestation period It is between 122 to 127 days. It is between 20 to 30 days.
What they feed on They feed on other insects including centipedes, other scorpions, spiders, worms, crickets, and grasshoppers. They feed on other spiders, lice, millipedes, centipedes, and other arachnids.
Habitats They under rocks or in abandoned burrows. They spin their webs in dark sheltered spots close to the ground.
Lifespan Lives between 4 to 25 years. They live between 1 to 2 months for males and 3 years for female
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What is Deathstalker?

Deathstalker is a venomous insect in the class Arachnida. They are found in the Middle East and North Africa. It is considered one of the most dangerous species of scorpions. Its venom is a combination of various neurotoxins.

The severeness of its sting depends on various factors. It depends on the age and health of the stung person. The sting may result in death if the person stung is allergic to some agents. Children and elderly people may have high chances of dying in case they are stung by a scorpion.

Female deathstalkers are large in body size as compared to their male counterparts. After mating, the females normally eat their male counterparts. They are cannibalistic in nature. They are very active during the night hence they are nocturnal in nature.

Their legs are hairy to sense nearby vibrations from their prey. They use their colors to camouflage to the surroundings when on a hunting mission.  They pounce on their prey before using their pincers to make them weak.

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What Is Black Widow?

It is one of the most feared arachnids. It is venomous and its sting may result in death. They are not aggressive but when threatened is when they bite. They sometimes eat their own species. They are cannibalistic in nature. After mating with the males, the females eat their male counterparts.

After mating and egg fertilization, the eggs are enclosed in a silken material and then placed in a hidden and well-camouflaged area. It takes 20 to 30 days for the eggs to hatch. Only 30 juveniles are hatched from the all eggs that are laid.

Apart from eating other spiders, they also feed on centipedes, millipedes, lice, and other arachnids. Only the female Southern black widows are the ones that have venom. When the venom is injected into the human body, it causes vomiting, sweating, muscle rigidity, headache, and nausea.

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Main Differences between Deathstalker and Black Widow

  1. Deathstalker carries low doses of venom while female black widows carry high amounts of venom.
  2. Deathstalkers are aggressive while black widows are timid.
  3. Deathstalkers are yellow in color while the color of black widows ranges from orange, red, black, white, and brown.
  4. The gestation period for deathstalkers is 122 to 127 days while the gestation period for black widows is 20 to 30 days.
  5. Deathstalkers live under rocks or in abandoned areas while black widows spin their webs in dark sheltered spots.

Similarities between Deathstalker and Black Widow

  1. They both belong to the Arachnida class.
  2. They both have cannibalistic behavior.
  3. They both feed on small insects.
  4. They are both nocturnal animals.
  5. In both females are larger than males.

In Conclusion

Deathstalkers and black widows are venomous insects from the class Arachnida. Both have cannibalistic behavior whereby after mating, the females eat their counterparts or when there is nothing to feed on then they may feed on their counterparts. The main feature that makes deathstalker different from black widow is their venom.

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