Spiders in Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands have a host of unique spider species, frequenting in and around the rainforests as well as the mountain tops. The southern black widow and the brown widow spiders are the deadliest among all species. While most species thrive throughout the year, the spotted or Hentz orb-weaver is mostly found in October. There are a lot of unique facts about spiders in this region.

The cane spider, as the name suggests thrives in the cane fields. Two species of the crab spider family also dwells in the Hawaiian islands, differing from most others in terms of their techniques of making webs. The happy-face spider located in the rainforest region of the state in the islands Maui, Oahu, and Molokai is endangered.

Common spiders: Hentz Orb-weaver (Neoscona crucifera), Hawaiian Garden (Argiope appensa), Cane (Heteropoda venatoria)

Largest spiders: Giant Daddy-long-legs (Artema atlanta), Kauaʻi cave wolf (Adelocosa anops)

Highly Venomous Spiders

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

• Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus)
• Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)

Less Venomous Spiders

Orb-Weaver (Araneidae)

• Hawaiian Garden (Argiope appensa)
• Hentz Orb-weaver (Neoscona crucifera)
• Western Spotted Orb-Weaver (Neoscona oaxacensis)
• Spiny Orb-Weaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis)
• Neoscona theisi

Huntsman (Sparassidae)

• Cane (Heteropoda venatoria)

Cobweb (Theridiidae)

• Hawaiian Happy-face (Theridion grallator)
• Red House (Nesticodes rufipes)

Cellar (Phocidae)

• Giant Daddy-long-legs (Artema atlanta)

Sicariidae

• Mediterranean Recluse (Loxosceles rufescens)

Desidae

• Grey House (Badumna longinqua)

Funnel Weaver (Agelenidae)

• Barn Funnel Weaver (Tegenaria domestica)

Wolf (Lycosidae)

• Kauaʻi cave wolf (Adelocosa anops)