brown widow; grey widow; brown button spider
A spider species (Latrodectus geometricus) known as the brown widow, grey widow, or brown button spider. The Japanese name literally means 'grey widow spider'.
The brown widow is known as an invasive species in Japan.
The venom of the brown widow is not as potent as that of the black widow.
Standard kanji spelling for this spider species.
Katakana spelling, common in biological contexts or when emphasizing the species name.
Compound of 灰色 (はいいろ, 'grey') + 後家 (ごけ, 'widow') + 蜘蛛 (くも, 'spider'), calque of the English 'grey widow'.