Poisonous Spiders in Hawaii

Full of beautiful beaches and blue water, Hawaii is one of the world's most well-known vacation destinations. Spiders probably aren't the first thing that comes to mind when one pictures Hawaii, but like nearly every other region in the world, the state has its shares of venomous arachnids, many of which are non-native and were introduced to the area via shipping crates or tourists.

  1. Widow Spiders

    • The brown widow can be distinguished with its brown coloring and white hourglass marking on its belly. It also has a circular pattern of dark white on the top of its abdomen, giving it a very striking appearance.

      Symptoms of a brown widow spider bite are very similar to that of the Black Widow; nausea, headaches, and occasional vomiting. Though extremely rare, it could possibly cause death in an infant.

      Brown widows are not aggressive and will typically only bite when provoked, preferring to live in solitude in cellars or under rocks or logs.

    Asian Spinybacked Spider

    • According to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, the Asian spinybacked spider is the most prolific biter in the state.

      The spiders, sometimes referred to as crab spiders, have flat bodies with spiny little spikes that jut out their backs. They tend to live in large communal webs, sometimes with hundreds or more.

      The bite is painful and may cause swelling and itching, but it typically causes little beyond that. They undergo seasonal population booms, which could very well account for the high number of bites.

    Pale Leaf Spider

    • The pale leaf spider is a rare species of spider on Hawaii and is more commonly known as the sac spider. It is a very small spider, usually not reaching more than an inch in length, and has a brown color overall with a cream-colored abdomen.

      Though rare, it can be aggressive. Symptoms of its bite include pain, nausea, swelling and ulcerations.

    Brown Violin Spider

    • The brown violin spider can be identified by its light brown color and a dark, violin-shaped marking on their back, just behind the eyes. Also known as the Mediterranean recluse, they're closely related to widow spiders and have bites that can result in headache, pain and nausea.