Rare Black Widow With Heart-Shaped Markings Melts the Internet
When a Reddit user whose account is now deleted posted a photo of a black widow spider they found clinging to a tree trunk, no one expected what came next.
Instead of the iconic red hourglass, this widow bore a pair of vivid red hearts on her abdomen. And not stylized ones either — they looked like perfect Valentine’s Day cutouts.
“I was speechless when I found her. This is probably the first really interesting spider I’ve ever found besides some jumpers.”
It didn’t take long before the internet crowned her with a new royal title: The Queen of Hearts.
Thousands of comments poured in, praising the spider’s beauty, speculating about the mutation, and cracking jokes that ranged from charming to mildly unhinged.
“You guys get all excited by a widow with a heart tramp stamp, I know a couple bars you could go to…”
But under the jokes was genuine fascination. The markings appeared naturally symmetrical, cleanly shaped, and deeply red — standing out in crisp contrast to the widow’s glossy black body.
Even in a subreddit full of spider lovers, this was a rare gem. One commenter called it a “1-in-a-million Valentine’s Day special.”
Others wondered aloud whether this could be a genetic anomaly, a pigmentation mutation, or simply nature’s version of romantic irony.
And while some folks admitted they’d still run screaming in the opposite direction, most couldn’t help but admire her.
“Honestly, I’d let her break my heart. 💔”
Widow spiders are often feared for their potent venom and myths that have floated around forever, but this unexpected beauty softened even the hardest arachnophobe’s heart.
For many, it was the first time they saw a widow as something worthy of admiration instead of fear.
The comment section turned into a mix of fascination, flirting, and full-on fanfare. One user joked, “This is the most dangerous Valentine I’ve ever wanted to take on a date,”
while another wrote, “Forget Cupid — she’s armed, stunning, and probably won’t call you back.”
Black widows, members of the genus Latrodectus, are commonly recognized by the hourglass-shaped marking on their underside.
But variations can occur due to genetics, environment, or developmental quirks. Still, perfectly formed red hearts? That’s the kind of rare detail that sends the internet into orbit.
“All hail the Queen of Hearts,” one person wrote. “Long may she slay.”
Others wondered whether the spider could be collected and studied, though most agreed that she should be left undisturbed in her natural setting.
The original poster confirmed they left her where she was found, noting, “She deserves to rule her tree in peace.”
No word yet on whether she’s claimed any actual playing cards or suitors, but one thing’s for sure: she’s ruling the internet with style.
For all the fear spiders tend to inspire, sometimes it just takes a couple of well-placed red hearts to make people stop and look a little closer.
