The Southern Black Widow is one of the most venomous spiders in North America, with the shiny black female bearing the iconic red hourglass marking on her underside. Its venom is a neurotoxin (latrotoxin) that causes intense pain, muscle cramping, and sweating, though fatalities are rare with modern medical care. Females spin irregular tangled webs in dark, sheltered locations and are generally nonaggressive unless directly threatened.
Best time to see a Southern Black Widow
The best time to see a Southern Black Widow is June–October, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 10,032 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Southern Black Widow? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Southern Black Widow sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spotted a Southern Black Widow?
Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.