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Karakurt — black female with a globular abdomen

Spiders in Georgia

Venomous spiders in Georgia?

Among the spiders represented in the Georgia atlas, the medically significant species is the karakurt (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus). Argiope is not a black widow. Do not touch or pick up an unknown spider by hand.

Quick answerSpiders

In brief

What to know in the first minutes.

Among the spiders discussed on this page, the most medically important is the karakurt (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus). The other species shown are not considered a significant danger to people, although that does not mean their bites are always painless.

  • Do not pick up a spider. The risk of a bite rises especially when a spider is touched, pressed, or otherwise disturbed.
  • If you see a yellow-and-black striped spider in a large orb web, often with a white zigzag, it is probably Argiope and not a karakurt.
  • A dark or brown spider with a reddish or yellowish band at the front of the abdomen may be the false karakurt (Steatoda paykulliana). Colour alone cannot identify the species reliably.
  • Do not cut, suck, or burn the bite site.
Spider biteEmergency help112

Georgia

Why this is not an article about the American “black widow”.

In Georgian-language search results, “black widow” is often associated with the American species Latrodectus mactans. According to the World Spider Catalog, L. mactans is a North American species. In Georgia, the confirmed species is the karakurt — Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, which is widespread around the Mediterranean and parts of Eurasia. In older literature, Caucasian material was sometimes also listed as a subspecies of L. mactans.

Georgia’s spider fauna is much more diverse than the few species shown on this page. As of 2022, hundreds of species are known from the country; this page discusses only the spiders that already have source-based profiles. The karakurt records used here are linked to Tbilisi, Gori, Aspindza, and the Shiraki and Eldari plains. Another region should not be marked from general range alone. Also, not every photo used on this page should automatically be treated as taken in Georgia.

Identification

How do we know which spider it is?

Colour alone is not enough. Identification should consider web type, abdomen shape, size, and other traits together. If you are not sure of the species, do not touch the spider by hand and compare it with the relevant species profile.

  1. 01

    Web.

    Karakurt and false karakurt build a loose, irregular cobweb, often close to the ground — among stones, vegetation, and different objects. Argiope builds a large, round orb web. Its web often has a white zigzag structure called a stabilimentum.

  2. 02

    Karakurt.

    An adult female karakurt is about 7–15 mm in body length. The abdomen is rounded and glossy black. Red spots are often visible on the back, although in adult females they may partly or completely disappear. Therefore, “thirteen red spots” are not a required mark for identifying karakurt. You also should not expect the hourglass-like mark known from the American black widow to be present.

  3. 03

    False karakurt.

    False karakurt (Steatoda paykulliana) is often dark brown or almost black. It may have a reddish, orange, or yellowish band on the front of the abdomen. It is not a karakurt. It has venom, and a bite can be painful. Do not touch it. Seek medical care if pain is severe or symptoms worsen.

  4. 04

    Argiope.

    Argiope bruennichi stands out with bold yellow-and-black cross-bands and often sits in the centre of a large orb web. The lobed argiope (Argiope lobata) is paler and has distinct lobes on the sides of the abdomen. Both are orb-web spiders and are not considered a medically significant danger to people.

Mediterranean black widow (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Tbilisi, Kakheti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, and Shida KartliMediterranean black widowLatrodectus tredecimguttatusorFalse black widow (Steatoda paykulliana) Georgia, in 8 regionsFalse black widowSteatoda paykulliana

What not to do

What should you not do?

Seeing a spider does not automatically mean it is a pest. Spiders feed on other small arthropods. Picking one up increases the bite risk.

  • Do not pick up a spider, including only “to check” or identify it up close.
  • You do not need to destroy every web found in a garden. For example, Argiope hunts insects and is not a black widow. If a web is not blocking people’s everyday movement, it can be left in place.
  • Do not cut, suck, or burn a spider bite.

Atlas

Spiders compared on this page.

The page compares several species profiles. If the spider’s traits match karakurt, check the detailed information on its species page and do not touch the spider by hand.

Karakurt profile

Myths

Common myths.

On the Georgian internet, local spiders are sometimes described with the names of North American species or with information written about them. That makes it important to check the scientific name and the range confirmed for Georgia.

  • Myth: a yellow-and-black spider seen in the garden is a black widow.

    Reality: in Georgia, a bright yellow-and-black spider seen in a large orb web in a garden is often Argiope. Argiope is not a karakurt and is not considered a medically significant danger to people.

  • Myth: the American black widow — Latrodectus mactans — lives in Georgia.

    Reality: the corresponding species confirmed in Georgia is the karakurt — Latrodectus tredecimguttatus. Latrodectus mactans is a different species associated with North America.

  • Myth: a small spider cannot be dangerous.

    Reality: spider size does not determine medical significance. For example, an adult female karakurt is about 7–15 mm in body length.

  • Myth: every black spider is a karakurt.

    Reality: a dark colour alone is not a karakurt mark. The false karakurt, for example, can also be almost black. Pattern, abdomen shape, web type, and other traits matter for identification. When in doubt, do not touch the spider by hand.

Related guides

Continue with thematic pages.

Identification, range, safety, and species indexes are grouped on connected pages so you can reach what you need without leaving the topic.

Safety

Dangerous and venomous animals of Georgia (the country)

Published pages on one hub, without a new ranking.

Open the hub
Catalog

Spider species

Published profiles in one table — names, families, risk, and links.

Index
112

Spider bite

Call 112. Do not cut or suck. Do not catch the spider.

Bite guide

FAQ

Venomous spiders — frequently asked questions

Short answers. Bite steps are on a separate guide.

Among the species discussed on this page, the most medically significant is the karakurt. Argiope is not considered a significant danger to people. A false-karakurt bite can be painful, but it is not a karakurt.

No. Argiope is not a karakurt. Argiope has bold yellow-and-black bands or a lobed abdomen and builds a large orb web. Karakurt is smaller and spins a loose, irregular web, often close to the ground.

The false karakurt has venom and is assessed as Moderate risk in the atlas; a bite can be painful. Clinical evidence is limited: Isbister and Gray 2003 describes Australian Steatoda bites, not cases of this species in Georgia. Do not pick it up. Seek medical care if pain is severe or symptoms worsen. Call 112 immediately if breathing becomes difficult or the face or throat swells severely.

No. Karakurt has not been confirmed in every region of Georgia. The specific records used on this page are linked to Tbilisi, Gori, Aspindza, Shiraki, and Eldari. A general statement that the species occurs in the Caucasus does not confirm its presence in every Georgian region.

Do not cut, suck, or burn the bite site. Do not try to catch the spider either.

No. Picking up a spider is not needed for identification and raises the bite risk. Observe from a safe distance or take a photo without touching the spider.

Next step

From a mark to a profile

Open a species or the bite guide. First rule: do not pick it up; after a bite, 112.

SpidersAll species