Are there black widows in Massachusetts?
Short answer
Yes
Yes. The black widow lives in Massachusetts. Open records come from 6 counties.
Where in Massachusetts
- 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.
Often mistaken for black widows
- Black Widow vs False Widow False widow: harmless
- Black Widow vs Brown Widow Brown widow: painful, rarely serious
Questions
Are there black widows in Massachusetts?
Yes. The black widow lives in Massachusetts. Open records come from 6 counties.
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.