Officially, there are 15 different confirmed sightings of spider species in Hawaii. Some of these spiders are unique to Hawaii, while others can also be found on other continents and countries.
In this article, we’ll go through the spiders that can be found in Hawaii, and we’ll also take a look at some of the characteristics of these spiders.
Spider Species in Hawaii
These are the most common spiders found in Hawaii.
1. Hawaiian Garden Spider (Argiope appensa)
The Argiope Appensa, or the Hawaiian garden spider, is a common spider species found in Hawaii.
It is also found in other countries, such as Taiwan, Australia, New Caledonia, New Guinea, and Indonesia.
These spiders are orb-weaving spiders, and they are communal spiders, which means they like to live in communities. The females are black-and-yellow, while males are brown, which means that these spiders show sexual dimorphism.
This spider is commonly found in Hawaiian gardens and yards as they love to create webs in these areas, where they will prey on insects and other animals they can find.
2. Giant Daddy-Long-Legs Spider (Artema atlanta)
The giant daddy-long-legs spider is the biggest daddy-long-legs spider in the world.
It is commonly found in Australia and parts of Asia, but also Hawaii and other islands in the Pacific Ocean.
The length of their legs is about 6.5 times the size of their body, which makes this spider the largest daddy-long-legs spider in the world.
It is said that this species was originally found in Asia, although it was later distributed to other parts of the world, including Hawaii. The spider loves the Hawaiian climate so it will be found in different areas.
3. Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda venatoria)
The huntsman spider, or the Heteropoda Venatoria, is one of the most famous spiders in the world.
It is particularly known for its immaculate hunting techniques, as it can capture large amounts of prey in a single day.
Huntsman spiders have venom, so many people are afraid of these spiders and their bites. However, the venom will usually not present big problems to humans. Instead, the spider will use this venom to attack other species, as it is one of the most effective species when it comes to hunting insects in the world.
4. Brown Widow Spider (Latrodectus geometricus)
The brown widow spider, or the Latrodectus geometricus, is considered to be one of the most feared spider species in Hawaii.
Their bites can be quite painful and might cause some discomfort for someone who’s been bitten, but they are rarely dangerous.
This spider is known for its long, brown legs, and brown body. They also have black and white patterns on the sides of their abdomen, and they’re also known for their hourglass shape.
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)
This spider is an orb-weaving spider that is found in both North and South America, but it is especially prevalent in states from Minnesota to Arizona.
Sometimes, this spider is also called a spotted orb weaver or a barn spider due to the fact they’re sometimes found in barns.
You’ll see this spider almost always in the comfort of its web. It will rarely leave its web and will create large-scale webs that are meant to both protect them and help them hunt.
This spider is commonly seen in late summer and early autumn, and many sightings of this spider are reported in that time particularly.
6. Barn Funnel Weaver (Tegenaria domestica)
The barn funnel weaver belongs to the group of spiders called Agelenidae, which is a funnel-web family that is found in Europe and the Americas.
This spider is known for its funnel webs, which it will create in nature.
This spider is distinguished by its long legs and relatively thick body. These spiders are orange to brown, and they typically have striped legs. They also have two long stripes on their cephalothorax, which makes them quite easy to distinguish.
7. Red House Spider (Nesticodes rufipes)
The Nesticodes rufipes is sometimes seen in Hawaii, although not as common as some other spider species we’ve mentioned above.
These spiders are venomous spiders with small, red bodies. Even though they are venomous, they are typically not dangerous to humans. They might appear menacing, but these spiders will rarely attack humans.
You might find them hiding in your home, building webs, and hiding between furniture pieces.
8. Spiny-backed Orb Weaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis)
The spiny-backed orb weaver is one of the most interesting spider species found in Hawaii.
It is usually quite easy to spot thanks to its distinct appearance. It has that typical arrangement of six spikes on its abdomen, accompanied by black and white spots, which makes it look a bit like a crab.
Not to be confused with a Crab Spider (Thomisidae) which is a small spider known for its ability to change its color to match its surroundings.
This spider species is usually found inside a web, but it does not live very long. Their main aim is reproduction, and when they achieve that goal, most of these spiders will perish.
9. Grey House Spider (Badumna longinqua)
The grey house spider is one of the more common spider species found in Hawaii.
It is usually found in homes and it hides between furniture and in corners of your home. The spider has that typical grey appearance that many people will recognize quickly.
They are also known for their striped legs. The spider is found all over the world, but most commonly in New Zealand, eastern Australia, Hawaii, Japan, the US, Mexico, and some other countries around the world.
10. Cithaeron praedonius
Cithaeron praedonius is a species from the Cithaeronidae family of spiders. While commonly found in India, they are also spotted throughout the world.
Their range may be expanding as they hitch-hike their way around the world on boats and planes. While they’re not abundant in Hawaii, there’s some evidence among people online that it may be present in urban areas. More research and crowdsourcing of spider identification is required.
11. Adanson’s House Jumper
Adanson’s House Jumper (Hasarius adansoni) is a species that thrives in warmer climates. It’s common in India, Australia, Japan, and China.
The spider is named after French naturalist Michel Adanson who identified it in 1826. They’re various colors of black, red, white, and brown. The males are more colorful than the females.
They’re only small. The abdomen of a female reaches 8mm while the male abdomen only grows to 6mm long.
12. Mediterranean Recluse
The Mediterranean Recluse is almost indistinguishable from its mainland cousin, the brown recluse.
Like the brown recluse, it’s highly venomous and can cause serious harm to humans. There’s only one recorded death from the Mediterranean Recluse bite (in 2016), but treatment is required if it bites.
There are no brown recluses in Hawaii, so if you think you saw a brown recluse on the island, chances are it’s the Mediterranean Recluse.
13. Neoscona theisi
Neoscona theisi is an orb web weaver spider with a yellow tinge, although its colors range from brown through white on its dorsal.
They’re mostly found in Australia, particularly tropical areas such as northern Queensland, but have also been identified around Hawaii, where the climate is similar to Australia’s.
The men are identifiable for their more flamboyant dorsal patterns than those of the females. As with most spiders, the males are also slightly smaller.
14. Western Spotted Orb Weaver
The Western Spotted Orb Weaver (Neoscona oaxacensis) is very common throughout North America. It was first identified in Oaxaca, Mexico, which is how it got its scientific name.
They’re one of the more common orb weavers you can find, with large versions found on the Galapagos Islands, and others found in Venezuela, Peru, and the United States. Their dorsal patterns are highly variable, but they’re usually a mix of greys and creamy yellows.
15. Double Spotted Spiny Spider
The Double Spotty Spiny Spider is from the Asian Spinybacked Orb-Weaver Family. They’re identifiable by their spikes on their backs, and the fact they spend their days sitting in their orb webs in gardens.
Hawaii is the only known state in which the Double Spotty Spiny Spider lives. Its main home outside of Hawaii is the Philippines.
Their spiky backs, often with red spikes, make them look fearsome and unpalatable to predators.
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Conclusion
Hawaii has its fair share of spiders, including some dangerous ones such as the Mediterranean Recluse. Of course, the ever-present daddy long legs (cellar spider) also makes its way into Hawaiian homes.
The warm weather in Hawaii makes it a great home for spiders who, as cold-blooded creatures, rely on the warmth of the climate around them to keep their bodies warm.
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