Venomous spiders in Arizona
Venomous spiders living in Arizona
3species, plus 1 with rare records
How to recognize them
Black widowMedically significant365 records, 14 counties
Desert recluseMedically significant13 records, 6 counties
TarantulaPainful, rarely serious527 records, 13 counties
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
Desert recluse Loxosceles deserta
- Pale tan recluse with a faint violin mark
- Six eyes in three pairs
- Plain legs with no bands
Tarantula Aphonopelma spp.
- Large, hairy, brown to black spider
- Lives in a burrow with silk around the entrance
- Males wander in late summer and fall looking for mates
Almost all spiders have venom, but very few can hurt people. We list the ones with medically significant bites plus a few that people often worry about.
Counties with records
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Active months
Rare records
- Rare records Brown widow 4 open records, latest 1996
Harmless spiders people mistake for them
Quick answers
- Not here Are there brown recluses in Arizona?
- Lives here Are there black widows in Arizona?
- Lives here Are there tarantulas in Arizona?
Questions
How many venomous spiders are in Arizona?
3 species live in the state: Black widow, Desert recluse and Tarantula.
Which venomous spiders in Arizona are dangerous?
Black widow and Desert recluse: bites or stings need medical care.
When are venomous spiders most active in Arizona?
Most open records fall in July to September.