# How Long Do Black Widow Spiders Live?

> Black Widow Spider lifespan is typically 1–3 years (females; males much shorter). What shortens or extends life, life stages, and status (Least Concern).

- **Species:** Black Widow Spider (*Latrodectus mactans*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Carnivore (insects and other small arthropods)
- **Habitat:** Sheltered, dark spots in fields, sheds, and woodpiles
- **Lifespan:** 1–3 years (females; males much shorter)
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/black-widow-spider/how-long-do-black-widow-spider-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/black-widow-spider/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) is a small, glossy black spider famous for the red hourglass marking on the underside of the female's abdomen. It shelters in dark, undisturbed spots such as sheds, woodpiles and field debris, where it builds a tangled web to trap insects. The female's body is only about 1.3 cm long, yet her venom is a potent neurotoxin. Females live one to three years; males are far smaller and shorter-lived.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a prognosis for one named animal. This page is a species lifespan range.

## Appearance and identification

The female black widow is unmistakable: a shiny jet-black body roughly 1.3 cm (0.5 inch) long, with legs spanning wider, and a vivid red hourglass on the underside of her rounded abdomen. Males are much smaller and paler, often marked with red or yellow streaks, and are rarely noticed. The glossy sheen and bold warning colour advertise the spider's toxicity to would-be predators. Juveniles look different again, with lighter, more patterned bodies that darken as they mature.

## Help protect the Black Widow Spider

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/black-widow-spider/how-long-do-black-widow-spider-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.