Venomous spiders in Maryland
How to recognize them
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
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 recluse 8 open records, latest 2026
- Rare records Brown widow 1 open record
Harmless spiders people mistake for them
Quick answers
Questions
How many venomous spiders are in Maryland?
1 species live in the state: Black widow.
Which venomous spiders in Maryland are dangerous?
Black widow: bites or stings need medical care.
When are venomous spiders most active in Maryland?
Most open records fall in June to September.
More for Maryland
- All venomous animals in Maryland
- Venomous snakes in Maryland
- Scorpions in Maryland
- Centipedes in Maryland