Hawaii is home to a wide variety of fauna and is well-known for its immaculate beaches, verdant rainforests, and lively culture. Although the majority of Hawaii’s wildlife is benign, a few poisonous spiders can be dangerous to people.
The deadliest spiders in Hawaii, along with their traits and possible threats, will be discussed in this article. Equipped with this understanding, you can relish your Hawaiian journey with increased tranquility.
Southern Black Widow
Latrodectus mactans, commonly referred to as the Southern black widow, is a poisonous species that should be avoided in Hawaii.
Even if the female is just going about her business, she should be avoided since, like other black widow species, she has a characteristic hourglass marking that is both red and black.
One thing that all black widows have in common is the defense mechanism they use to safeguard their eggs. One characteristic that sets them apart from other black widows is the female’s full hourglass figure on her abdomen.
In comparison to those seen in Western species, they are also larger, more rectangular, and glossy. Southern widows range in length from 4 to 6 mm for males and 8 to 13 mm for females.
Western Black Widow
Given that the black widow species is typically seen as a frightening arachnid, the name alone typically terrifies people. Known to be between half and a third the size of their female counterparts, male Latrodectus hesperus are found in hotter regions around Oahu and have a formal length range of 7 to 15 mm.
Both residents and visitors continue to be at risk from them. Avoiding females is strongly advised due to their red markings on their belly, which indicate that their bite is more hazardous than those of males.
In Hawaii, unlike other species, black widows can be found near burrows and abandoned wood piles that are found throughout the archipelago, including even furniture regions and low shrub settings.
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Mediterranean Recluse
As its name suggests, the Mediterranean recluse (Loxosceles rufescens) is endemic to the Mediterranean region, however it is also known to live on four islands in the Hawaiian archipelago.
They enjoy spending time in wet places like caves and basements, where they can hunt silverfish and cockroaches. Because it can lurk in remote, dark places where people are unlikely to discover it at first glance, this kind of spider is dangerous to be close to.
These recluses have violin-shaped abdomens that are light tan or dark brown, and they stand out for having lengthy legs. They are roughly the size of a quarter (7 to 7.5mm).
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Brown Widow
Latrodectus geometricus, the brown widow arachnid, is a poisonous species that may be identified by its irregular sticky webs, tan and black legs, and orange hourglass body marks on the female.
Males are half the length and size of females, which are typically 1 to 1.5 inches long. Humans are at risk from these arachnids because their bites might result in more severe reactions, open painful blisters, and swellings.
Although the brown widow spider is thought to be less hazardous than the black widow, care should still be taken if you approach it in a way that could aggravate it.
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Bold Jumping
The Bold Jumping Spider has a white triangle on its abdomen and a black body. As a solitary carnivore, Phidippus audax relishes hunting prey with remarkable vision.
Their lengths vary from about 13 to 20 mm. Even if their bites are few, they can nonetheless be fatal to caterpillars, grasshoppers, other spiders, and even people.
These arachnids’ venom is sufficient to induce nausea, persistent redness, and itching for a few days. When pursuing prey, these spiders are remarkable in that they don’t weave webs.
World Atlas: 5 Most Venomous Spiders in Hawaii
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