Venomous spiders in Massachusetts
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
Harmless spiders people mistake for them
Quick answers
- Not here Are there brown recluses in Massachusetts?
- Lives here Are there black widows in Massachusetts?
Questions
How many venomous spiders are in Massachusetts?
1 species live in the state: Black widow.
Which venomous spiders in Massachusetts are dangerous?
Black widow: bites or stings need medical care.
When are venomous spiders most active in Massachusetts?
Most open records fall in August to September.
More for Massachusetts
- All venomous animals in Massachusetts
- Venomous snakes in Massachusetts
- Scorpions in Massachusetts
- Centipedes in Massachusetts