A black widow spider protecting her egg sacs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

It's a 40-foot long black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus), complete with the distinguishing red hourglass. And it's coming to life in the backyard of entomologists Robert and Lynn Kimsey of Davis.

The UC Davis Entomology Club, advised by forensic entomologist Robert Kimsey, is building it for the UC Davis Picnic Day Parade on Saturday, April 18.

It's reminiscent of the black widow spider that the UC Davis Entomology Club built for the parade nearly 20 years ago. It's been a long hiatus since the last parade entry, the entomologists agree.

The spider represents a month of planning and two weeks of building, said Entomology Club vice president Alex Nguyen.

What's it like having the humongous spider right outside your windows?

“Well, it is very weird!” Robert Kimsey said. “It is huge and currently in pieces as it is getting its skin and pedipalps and other minor body parts and whatnot.  It is anatomically correct in every way!  The students have been trained well in arachnology!”

“There are legs all over the place,” Kimsey said of the eight legs. Each is slightly less than 20 feet long. “So the overall span of the legs is somewhat less than 40 feet.  Again, it is huge.  I have to admit that there are some brilliant artists and engineers in this group! But looking out the windows into the backyard takes your breath away. Any non-biologist would completely go to pieces.”

In real life, the black widow is about 1.5 inches long.

During the parade, Entomology Club president Marko Marrero will be inside the spider, hoisting it up, and walking with it, along with two people at each leg.

“The spider idea collectively came from all members of the cabinet after hearing about past picnic days from Bob,” Nguyen said. “When we presented it to the club we received very positive feedback so we decided to commit to marching in the parade with a float this year.”

“It is really a chance for club members to get together and socialize with each other and frankly have fun,” Nguyen commented. Some 15 members are involved in building the float.

The opening ceremony of the parade begins at 9:25 a.m. in the grandstands on the North Quad Avenue across from Wickson Hall. The parade begins at 10, snakes downtown, and ends at noon. Announcement locations include the beginning of the parade; second and D Street in downtown Davis; F street in front of PDQ Fingerprinting; and third and C Street in downtown Davis.

Following the parade, the spider float will be showcased in front of Briggs Hall, off Kleiber Hall Drive, where scores of entomological events will take place.

Membership in the entomology club is open to all interested persons, including faculty, staff, college and high school students and community residents. Further information is available by emailing entomologyclub@gmail.com.