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Southern Black Widow

Latrodectus mactans

Spider or relative · family Theridiidae · order Araneae

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Southern Black Widow
Photo: Kazvorpal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
Native in
6 states[2]

The Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans) is a spider in the family Theridiidae[3]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1].

Conservation status

The US Fish and Wildlife Service data we checked on 2026-10-30 show that the Southern Black Widow is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. That only describes its federal listing. NatureServe gives it a state rank of SNR in each of the 6 states where it records the spider[4]. SNR means the species has not yet been ranked there.

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed

Where Southern Black Widow lives

NatureServe lists the Southern Black Widow as native in 6 US states and territories: California, Indiana, Montana, Rhode Island, South Carolina and West Virginia[2]. These lists show where NatureServe records the species. They do not promise you will see it in a given state. People have also reported it often on GBIF in Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia and Arkansas[5]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, not how many spiders live there[5].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: native, state rank SNRMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: native, state rank SNRINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: native, state rank SNRRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: native, state rank SNRWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank SNRSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[4].
Show state ranks (6 states)
StateRankMeaning
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
IndianaSNRNot Ranked
MontanaSNRNot Ranked
Rhode IslandSNRNot Ranked
South CarolinaSNRNot Ranked
West VirginiaSNRNot Ranked

When to look for it

Reports of the Southern Black Widow on GBIF are spread across the year, and most of them fall in July, August and September[6]. These records reflect when people look and report, not how many animals there are[6].

January: 142 recordsJanFebruary: 207 recordsFebMarch: 439 recordsMarApril: 686 recordsAprMay: 693 recordsMayJune: 774 recordsJunJuly: 1,078 recordsJulAugust: 1,005 recordsAugSeptember: 1,178 recordsSepOctober: 851 recordsOctNovember: 408 recordsNovDecember: 174 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[6].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January142
February207
March439
April686
May693
June774
July1,078
August1,005
September1,178
October851
November408
December174

Where to see it

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia, Arkansas[5]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Safety around this animal

These tips are quoted in summary from official agencies. We add no advice of our own. Follow local rules and the agency pages linked below.

From CDC / NIOSH

  • CDC names the black widow and the brown recluse as the two venomous spiders in the United States that can endanger outdoor workers.
  • Black widows hide in undisturbed spots such as woodpiles, eaves, fences and debris piles. Brown recluses hide in dry, secluded places, including closets, shoes and attics.
  • To prevent bites, shake out clothing, shoes, towels and gear before use, and wear long sleeves, long pants, gloves and boots around stacked materials.
  • After a bite, stay calm, wash the bite with soap and water, put a cold cloth or ice on it, raise the area and get medical care. Do not try to remove venom.

Source: CDC / NIOSH[7]

Questions people ask

Is the Southern Black Widow endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1].
Where does the Southern Black Widow live?
NatureServe lists it as native in California, Indiana, Montana, Rhode Island, South Carolina and West Virginia[2]. GBIF has the most reports from Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia and Arkansas, but those counts follow observer effort[5].
When is the Southern Black Widow reported most?
GBIF records peak in July, August and September[6]. This shows when people report the spider, not how many exist[6].
What does the CDC say about black widow bites?
CDC / NIOSH advises washing the bite with soap and water, using a cold cloth or ice, raising the area and getting medical care[7].

Facts and sources

  1. Southern Black Widow is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe lists Southern Black Widow as native in 6 US states and territories: California, Indiana, Montana, Rhode Island, South Carolina, West Virginia. NatureServe Explorer
  3. Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans) is a spider or relative in the family Theridiidae, order Araneae. NatureServe Explorer
  4. NatureServe state ranks for Southern Black Widow (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  5. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Southern Black Widow: Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia, Arkansas. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  6. GBIF observation records of Southern Black Widow in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  7. Safety guidance from CDC / NIOSH. CDC

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Kazvorpal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.