Hawaii is home to a diverse range of spider species. With over 200 species identified across the islands, spiders play an important role in the local ecosystem While some species like the Brown Widow and Black Widow can pose a danger, most Hawaiian spiders are harmless to humans This article provides an overview of some of the most common spiders found in the Aloha State.
Orb Weavers
The orb weaver family includes some of Hawaii’s most beautiful spiders. Known for their intricate, circular webs, orb weavers are found throughout the islands in gardens, forests, and backyards.
Some common Hawaiian orb weavers include
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Hawaiian Garden Spider (Argiope appensa): A large black and yellow spider found across the islands. Females can reach 2.5 inches including legs.
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Spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis): A colorful spider with six spines on the female’s abdomen. They build webs up to two feet across.
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Spotted Orb Weaver (Neoscona crucifera): A small orb weaver found in many habitats and active mostly at night.
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Western Spotted Orbweaver (Neoscona oaxacensis): A large black and white spider that builds webs up to two feet wide.
Orb weavers use their webs to catch flying and jumping insects which become trapped in the sticky threads. The spiders immobilize their prey with venom before wrapping them in silk.
Huntsman Spiders
Huntsman spiders are swift, agile hunters that forgo webs in favor of chasing down their prey. The largest and most common huntsman in Hawaii is the Cane Spider.
- Cane Spider (Heteropoda venatoria): A very large spider, up to 5 inches across when legs are spread. It hunts cockroaches and other insects mostly at night. The Cane Spider is often mistaken for the Brown Recluse spider.
Cobweb Spiders
Cobweb spiders produce messy, tangled webs in corners of buildings and vegetation. Some Hawaiian cobweb spiders include:
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Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans): Hawaii’s most venomous spider. The females are black with a red hourglass marking.
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Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus): A cousin to the Black Widow. Brown with an orange hourglass marking. Venom can cause milder symptoms than the Black Widow.
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Happy Face Spider (Theridion grallator): A colorful spider named for patterns on the abdomen that resemble a smiling face. Lives in rainforests on several islands.
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Red House Spider (Nesticodes rufipes): A red spider often found near doors and windows where males establish small territories.
Cellar Spiders
Cellar spiders have long skinny legs and small bodies. The Giant Daddy Longlegs of Hawaii has a legspan up to 8 inches.
- Giant Daddy Longlegs (Artema atlanta): A very large cellar spider. It does not produce webs and wanders hunting for food.
Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders are compact, hairy spiders that actively hunt during the day. Some Hawaiian jumping spiders include:
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Pantropical Jumping Spider (Plexippus paykullii): A common jumper on buildings seeking insects attracted to lights.
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Ant-Mimicking Jumping Spider (Myrmarachne nigella): Mimics the appearance of ants to avoid predators. Waves front legs in the air resembling antennae.
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Lami Beach Jumping Spider (Cosmophasis lami): Females have bright orange stripes on the abdomen. Endemic to Hawaii and found only on Maui.
Jumping spiders have excellent vision used to stalk close to prey before pouncing. Most are harmless to humans.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders hunt instead of building webs and carry egg sacs attached to their spinnerets. Two Hawaiian wolf spiders are:
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Kauai Cave Wolf Spider (Adelocosa anops): Endemic to Hawaii and limited to cave habitats on Kauai. Lacks eyes and has pale coloring.
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Hogna hawaiiensis: A large wolf spider, females grow up to 1.2 inches long. Lives on ground and will bite defensively if disturbed.
Other Common Hawaiian Spiders
Some additional spiders in Hawaii include:
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Mediterranean Recluse (Loxosceles rufescens): A venomous recluse spider found in drier areas. Bites cause mild reactions.
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Grey House Spider (Badumna longinqua): A cobweb weaver that lives on vegetation and buildings throughout the islands.
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Barn Funnel Weaver (Tegenaria domestica): Makes funnel shaped webs in dark sheltered areas.
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Spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis): Colorful spider with spines on abdomen. Builds large circular webs.
Common spiders in Hawaii
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Closer look at venomous spider caught in Honolulu
FAQ
Are there poisonous spiders in Hawaii?
- Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans): This is one of the venomous spiders found in Hawaii.
- Brown Widow Spider (Latrodectus geometricus): Another venomous spider species present in Hawaii.
- Brown Violin: A relative of the brown recluse spider, is found in Hawaii.
- Cane Spider: While not considered medically dangerous to most people, their bites can be painful, similar to a bee sting, and might cause temporary swelling.
- Brown recluse spider: While dangerous on the mainland, it is not known to be an established inhabitant of the Hawaiian Islands.
What is the biggest spider in Hawaii?
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Common Names:Cane spider, Huntsman spider, banana spider, giant crab spider, brown huntsman
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Size:These spiders are quite large, with a body size that can be as big as a can of tuna, and have thick, hairy legs.
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Habitat:They are found on all the Hawaiian Islands and are known to frequent cane fields.
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Harmless:While they are large and can bite, they are generally considered harmless to humans.
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Other Common Spiders:Other common spiders in Hawaii include garden spiders, spiny-backed orb-weavers, and false funnel spiders.
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Venomous Spiders:Dangerous venomous spiders in Hawaii include the black widow spider, brown widow spider, pale leaf spider, and a relative of the brown recluse spider.
What is the most common spider in Hawaii?
The most common and infamous, cane spiders, garden spiders, spiny backed orb-weavers (often called crab spiders), and false funnel spiders are the common ones, living among our houses and gardens with few impacts.
Do they have tarantulas in Hawaii?
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No Native Tarantulas:Hawaii’s unique ecosystem is not native to tarantulas, and they are not considered a part of the island’s natural fauna.
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Focus on Invasive Species:The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is focused on preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species, including tarantulas, snakes, and other creatures that could be detrimental to the environment.
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Common Spider Species:Instead of tarantulas, Hawaii has a variety of spider species, including cane spiders, garden spiders, and spiny-backed orb-weavers.
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Venomous Spiders:Venomous spiders in Hawaii include the black widow spider, brown widow spider, pale leaf spider, and a relative of the brown recluse spider.
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Bold Jumping Spiders are native to North America and have been introduced to Hawaii.
Are there spiders in the Hawaiian Islands?
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.
What is a Hawaiian garden spider?
Scientific name: Argiope appensa. Common name: Hawaiian garden spider, banana spider. The Hawaiian garden spider is a member of the orb weaver family, which has been introduced to all the main islands in Hawaii. These spiders make a range of habitats their home from coastal areas to forests. The females are more colorful and larger than the male.
What is the largest spider in Hawaii?
The largest spider in Hawaii is the cane spider, which can grow to be 12cm in length. Also going by many nicknames including the ‘large brown spider,’ and the ‘brown huntsman,’ this species is generally harmless despite its large size.
Are brown widow spiders common in Hawaii?
The brown widow spider is quite common in Hawaii. It is one of the most commonly seen spiders, although they have been known to cause some problems for humans because of their bites. They will almost never bite on their own, though, and might only bite if they feel they have no escape. 5. Hentz Orb-Weaver (Neoscona crucifera)
Are there wolf spiders in Hawaii?
Also known as the blind spider by locals, the Kaua’i cave wolf spider is the sole species in the genus Adelocosa. First discovered in 1973, it is one of the rarest spiders in Hawaii. This endangered species is found only in a few caves in the region of Kaua’i, and only a handful of populations have been discovered by scientists.
Where do crab spiders live in Hawaii?
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.