Are there black widows in Hawaii?
Short answer
Rare records only12 open records, latest from 2026
Only as rare records. GBIF holds 12 open records of the black widow from Hawaii, the latest from 2026, but there is no known population.
Where the records come from
- None
- 1 to 2 records
- 3 to 9
- 10 to 49
- 50 or more
Black widows across the US
- Lives here
- Rare records
- Gone
- Not here
How to recognize one
Black widow Latrodectus mactans, L. variolus, L. hesperus
- Shiny black female with a round abdomen
- Red hourglass or two red marks under the abdomen
- Messy, strong web low to the ground, often in garages, wood piles and water meters
Medically significant. Venom affects nerves and can cause strong muscle pain and cramps. Deaths in the US are very rare.
Related species in Hawaii
Often mistaken for black widows
- Black Widow vs False Widow False widow: harmless
- Black Widow vs Brown Widow Brown widow: painful, rarely serious, lives in Hawaii
Questions
Are there black widows in Hawaii?
Only as rare records. GBIF holds 12 open records of the black widow from Hawaii, the latest from 2026, but there is no known population.
What related species live in Hawaii?
Brown widow. See the section below.
What do black widows look like?
Shiny black female with a round abdomen. Red hourglass or two red marks under the abdomen. Messy, strong web low to the ground, often in garages, wood piles and water meters.