Common Spiders in Southern California

Spiders are arthropods that have eight legs. They have more legs and different body parts than insects, and they
also don’t move around in the same way insects do. Spiders are in the arachnid class, but not all arachnids are spiders. 
There are about 40,000 known species of spiders. Most spiders use a web to catch their prey, which is usually insects.
The largest spider is the Goliath tarantula, and they can catch birds. The smallest spider in the world is less than 1mm long!
BLACK WIDOW
LATRODECTUS MACTANS
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BROWN RECLUSE
LOXOSCELES RECLUSA
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GARDEN SPIDER
ARGIOPE SPP.
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HOUSE SPIDER
FAMILY THERIDIIDAE
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6 FACTS ABOUT SPIDERS

Spiders have adapted to live in nearly every type of habitat, and they are one of the top 10 most diverse populations on earth. They play vital roles in all ecosystems -except in your home.

The following spider facts will help you learn more about these eight-legged pests, some of which might appear in your backyard this summer and fall.

Fact#1 All spiders produce silk
Something common to all 40,000 species of spiders is that they all spin silk. And as spiders have evolved, so has their ability to work with silk. One spider can produce up to seven different types, each used for a different purpose such as spinning webs or capturing prey.

Fact#2 One species is mostly vegetarian
It was thought that all spiders were carnivorous, capturing and eating other insects, but one species in Central America has been found to be mostly herbivorous! Bagheera kiplingi inhabit trees that produce protein-rich buds on their leaves. These buds are part of a symbiotic relationship between the trees and ants, but B. kiplingi also benefit from consuming the buds. However, during dry seasons these spiders are known to be carnivorous. They may cannibalize each other or steal ant larvae when food is scarce.

Fact#3 Spiders are nearsighted
Most spiders have eight eyes, but some, like the brown recluse spider, only have six. Spiders typically have a main set that can create images while the secondary sets can only detect light and shadow. It is thought that the secondary sets of eyes are derived from the compound eyes of a common ancestor to both spiders and insects.

But even with all of those eyes, spiders cannot see far into the distance. Nearsightedness is a problem for people, but the habits of spiders are such that being nearsighted isn't a deficiency. They wait for prey to get caught in their webs and use silk trip wires to warn of approaching predators.

Fact#4 Females can lay up to 3,000 eggs at one time
These eggs are housed in one or more silk sacs. The level of care a female spider provides for her young varies by species. Some females will die shortly after laying eggs while others will carry spiderlings on their backs or share prey with them.

Fact#5 Jumping spiders can jump up to 50x their own length
When hunting or trying to escape a predator, jumping spiders are able to make very agile movements and jump multiple times their body length. This is possible due to an internal hydraulic system. Jumping spiders can alter the pressure of fluids in their legs resulting in a springing motion that propels the spiders forward.

Fact#6 The 'daddy long-legs' you see might not actually be a spider
The nickname 'daddy long-legs' has been given to several different pests, only one of which is an actual spider. Crane flies, harvestmen and cellar spiders are all colloquially identified as 'daddy long-legs.' Only cellar spiders are spiders. Harvestmen are in the arachnid family, but they lack venom and silk glands. Crane flies are agricultural pests with very long legs and the ability to fly.

Black Widow

Black widow spiders get their common name from the popular belief that the female eats the male after mating, a phenomenon which rarely happens in nature. These spiders can be found worldwide with five species established in the United States and are most recognized for the red hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen. Although fatalities are rare, the black widow’s venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake’s and can cause muscle aches and nausea, as well as make breathing difficult. 

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Black widow spiders are typically black with two reddish triangular markings usually joined to form a reddish hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen – their most recognized feature. Females are occasionally brownish black.
Young black widow spiders are primarily orange and white but acquire more black color as they mature. They have markings that are very similar to male adults – with one or two reddish markings on underneath side of abdomen.

Most black widow spiders are 3 to 10 mm long, with females being larger than males. Black widow spiders have eight legs and eight simple eyes, including two lateral pairs that almost touch.

Many people have learned to fear the sight of a black widow spider. It is one of the three most dangerous spiders in the United States. Although its bite is rarely fatal, it can be a long and painful experience if you are bitten. Most black widow females have a prominent red or orange hourglass marking on their back that can be used to help identify their type. This mark develops once females reach maturity.

Like other spiders, black widows only have two body regions, a head and a cephalothorax. Their front and back pairs of legs are long and slender and point forward and backward. They also have two middle pairs of legs that point away from their body. Black widow spiders build webs that appear to be disorderly. When trying to identify if you have a black widow spider in your home, look for messy webs that appear to have no order or structure.

Black widows are active when the temperature is 70 degrees or higher, but they can survive in lower temperatures with the right conditions. Black widow spiders spin irregular webs, which they build at night near ground level. Once complete, these spiders hang upside-down in their webs, which are usually less than 1 foot in diameter. They use their webs to ensnare prey. Similar to most spiders, black widows choose arthropods as their source of food, including ants, beetles, cockroaches, scorpions and more.

Most black widows take nearly a year to grow from egg to adult. They overwinter as immature individuals, develop into adults in the spring and die in late July. Female black widows have been known to consume male black widows once mating is complete, but contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t happen 100 percent of the time.

Black widows favor dry, dark locations to spin their webs. They often seek out warm areas during the winter months. Outdoors, black widow spiders commonly live in protected areas. These include under stones and decks, as well as in firewood piles and hollow tree stumps. The preferred habitats of black widows are dry man-made structures including barns, outhouses, henhouses, sheds, meter boxes, brick veneer, barrels and woodpiles. Indoors, black widow spiders tend to hide in sheltered, dimly lit locations and are often found in garages, basements and in crawl spaces. They prefer cluttered areas that offer more harborage for their prey. 

Black Widow Spider Bites
While male black widow spiders rarely bite, females may bite in defense, especially after laying eggs.

Symptoms of a black widow spider bite include fever, increased blood pressure, sweating and nausea. Pain is usually almost immediate and reaches its maximum in 1-3 hours. The pain associated with a black widow spider bite may continue for one to three days and then gradually subside.

Fatalities from a black widow spider bite are unlikely, as long as proper medical treatment is sought in a timely manner. If you notice black widows or signs of a spider infestation, contact Bug Busters Exterminators L.A. who can safely and effectively address black widow spider control. 

Black widow spiders are generally considered beneficial since they eat so many insects. However female black widow spiders can attack humans when they are provoked. The black widow spider delivers the most toxic spider bite in the United States. The venom of the black widow spider is comprised of neurotoxins that affect the nervous system.

TIPS FOR CONTROL

One of the most helpful ways to prevent spiders from inhabiting your home is to reduce clutter. To do this, you should:

→ Organize items that are not used on a regular basis in storage bins or airtight bags. Stacks of papers or clothes that go untouched for many months provide ideal hiding places for spiders to thrive in.
→ Eliminate cracks and gaps on the outside of your home to prevent spiders from entering the home.
→ Certain treatments to eliminate spiders can be applied, but it is best to consult a pest management professional on the most effective options available.

People can minimize the risk of being bitten by a black widow spider by reducing clutter in basements and garages, which, in turn, eliminates their hiding spots. When spider webs are visible, use caution before putting your hands or feet in that area. You should also wear heavy gloves when moving items that have been stored for a long period of time and shake out shoes before wearing them. Outdoors, store firewood at least 20 feet from the home on a raised structure. If you suspect a spider infestation, contact Bug Busters Exterminators L.A. for a black widow control and extermination specialist immediately. This is the safest way to get rid of black widow spiders in the home.

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One of the most obvious signs of a spider infestation is the presence of webs in the home or on the property. Black widow spiders usually construct messy and irregular webs located near ground level. Finding a silken sac – which holds eggs – in the doorway is another sign that a spider infestation is underway. If you see any of these signs, a Bug Busters Exterminators L.A. professional black widow spider services may be necessary.
Brown Recluse

Often identified by a dark brown violin shape on its back, the brown recluse spider is predominantly found in the Midwest and Southeast of the United States. This species is well known for its "secretive" behaviors, as it prefers to take residence in warm, dry and dark environments, such as woodpiles, basements and closets. This arachnid bites, usually unintentionally when it feels trapped, typically when a hand or foot reaches into a shoe or piece of clothing or a box in the attic or basement where a brown recluse has made its home. Because their bites can take three or more hours to develop and about three weeks to heal, it is important to keep an eye on the individual which was bitten. The brown recluse venom can cause severe allergic reactions, notably in children, the elderly or those with preexisting medical conditions.

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While black carpenter ants are common, these pests may be a combination of black and red, or completely black, red or brown.

Brown recluse spiders range in color from a light tan to a dark brown, with no distinguishing stripes or bands. Their long thin legs have a silky appearance to them due to fine hairs that grow along the entire length. Sometimes referred to as the “violin” or “fiddleback,” the brown recluse spider has a distinguishing violin-shaped marking on its dorsum.

Adult brown recluse spiders are usually about 1/4 to 1/2 inches in length.
The most telltale characteristic of brown recluse spiders is the presence of a dark, violin-shaped mark on the dorsum of the arachnid's light brown or yellowish-brown cephalothorax. The neck of this distinct violin pattern is directed toward the abdomen. Due to this marking, brown recluses are also commonly known as fiddle-back spiders. Baby brown recluse spiders do not have this distinctive marking. It develops as the spiders grow into adulthood. To positively identify a spider as a recluse, both the eyes and fiddle marking must be seen, since other spiders may possess one or the other characteristic alone.

Brown recluse spiders dwell in many of the same dark, sheltered places as black widows. They can be found in homes, barns and basements. Webs tend to appear disorganized and are built most commonly near ground level. The spider is a hunter, so the web is not intended to catch prey but instead roams around searching for prey. The brown recluse is found in the central southern part of the U.S., from Texas to the western most part of Florida.

Brown recluse spiders are shy and rarely bite unless provoked. Bites usually go unnoticed until effects manifest a few hours later. Most bites become red and fade away, but in uncommon cases necrosis or tissue damage can occur. A medical professional should be consulted if there are medical concerns.

Female brown recluse spiders deposit 40-50 eggs in a silken egg sac, which is off-white, with the outer covering loosely woven. Each sac contains between 31-300 eggs. The eggs hatch in 25-39 days and the spiderlings undergo at least one molt within the sac before emerging. The development period (egg to adult) averages 336 days.

Indoors, male brown recluse spiders live an average of 543 days, and females live 628 days, but 4-5 years is not uncommon. The female spins an irregular web in undisturbed areas, like the garage, attic and basement. The web is not used to catch prey, but rather as a retreat.

Outside, brown recluse spiders are typically found around rocks, piles of inner tubes, utility boxes, woodpiles, under bark, etc. These spiders have been found in such places as cedar shake roofs.

Inside the home, brown recluse spiders can be found in almost any undisturbed area. They are most commonly found in boxes, among papers, and in seldom-used clothing and shoes, although they can be found in corners, underneath tables and chairs, or in crevices such as those found along baseboards, doors, and window moldings. Storage areas such as closets, bedrooms, attics, crawl spaces, and basements are the preferred nesting areas of brown recluse spiders. In commercial buildings, brown recluse spiders may be found in heat tunnels, boiler rooms, attics, basements, storerooms, and garages.

With respect to food, brown recluse spiders prefer live small prey, such as cockroaches and crickets. If their prey is large, they would rather it to be dead, presumably to avoid damage to themselves. Their prey are primarily insects.

Brown recluse spiders often live outdoors where they are typically found around rocks, utility boxes and woodpiles. Indoors, brown recluses can be found in any undisturbed area, such as inside boxes, among papers, in seldom-used apparel and shoes, under furniture or in crevices of window moldings. Closets, attics, crawl spaces and basements are the most common brown recluse spider hiding spots.

The pests lay up to five egg sacs with as many as fifty eggs in each. This can quickly escalate an infestation. While they typically refrain from attacking humans, brown recluse spiders will bite if provoked. This often occurs when people step on the pests or roll on them while sleeping. Bites can result in lesions, nausea, and fever.

ARE BROWN RECLUSES POISONOUS?
When brown recluses bite a human, the bites they administer are venomous. How a person is effected by a brown recluse bite is largely dependent on how much venom was injected and how the person reacts, since different people may have different reactions. See above for proper treatment of bites.

Brown Recluse Spider Bites
The bite of a brown recluse spider is usually not felt, but it may produce an immediate stinging sensation followed by intense pain or this reaction may be delayed for 6-8 hours. A small blister usually appears and the surrounding bite area becomes swollen. Symptoms include restlessness, fever and difficulty sleeping. The dead tissue gradually sloughs away during the next 10-14 days, leaving an open ulcer and possibly exposing the underlying muscles and/or bone. An antivenom has been developed but it is not clinically available. Call a physician or go to an emergency room immediately if bitten, and take the spider along for identification purposes. It should be noted that not all brown recluse bites result in ulcer formation, and that bites of other arthropods may cause similar reactions in people.

Both male and female brown recluse spiders can bite and inject venom. Injection of their venom may produce necrosis or dead tissue, resulting in an ulcerating type of sore. Healing is very slow and usually takes several weeks, resulting in dense scar tissue. In severe cases, plastic surgery may be required.

How to Get Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders 

The most effective method of brown recluse spider control is to prevent them from entering the home in the first place. Homeowners should inspect the outside of your home for any small openings or holes, paying special attention to areas where utility pipes enter the home. Seal any such openings with a silicone caulk to prevent spiders and other insects from gaining access inside.

Stack firewood at least twenty feet from your home and five inches up off of the ground to deter spiders from hiding out in the wood. It’s a good idea to wear gloves when moving the wood, and inspect it carefully before bringing indoors.

Clothes and shoes should not be left on the floor, or they must be shaken out before wearing, especially if stored in the basement, garage, or other dark are. It’s good practice to store seldom-used items, such as boots, baseball mitts, skates, gardening clothes, and gloves, in tightly sealed plastic bags or boxes.

Control of severe brown recluse spider infestations should be left to a licensed pest control professional.

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The brown recluse or fiddleback | violin spider gets its common names from its coloration and reclusive habits, or the dark violin | fiddle-shaped marking on the top of its chest. Brown recluse spiders are found in Southern Europe, temperate Africa, and in North, Central, and South America. In the United States, brown recluse spiders are found predominantly in the Midwest and Southeast. Of the 11 recognized species, six are of public health importance.
Garden

Garden spiders are found on many continents throughout the globe. As their name suggests, garden spiders are most commonly found in gardens, meadows and clearings..

Garden spiders also are known as orb weavers due to their orb-shaped, delicate webs. Even garden spider-lings are capable of spinning these intricate structures without the assistance of mature spiders.

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The garden spider’s color varies, but the most common species is black and yellow.

This is a large spider with a body up to one inch long or larger and a leg span of up to three inches.

Garden spiders spin very large, flat, orb-shaped webs across open spaces between tree and shrub branches. The webs will be located along natural flight paths for flying insects. This spider sits in the center of the web, head facing downward, waiting for an unwary insect to fly into its web. The spider then hurries to the insect, bites it to subdue it, wraps it tightly in silk and carries it like a prize to a more protected area of the web to feed on it later. The garden spider begins repairing the web immediately to prepare for its next flying prey.

The webs of garden spiders are notoriously strong. The garden spider uses its web to capture food. Although their eyesight is poor, garden spiders are extremely sensitive to vibrations along the strands of their webs. Positioning themselves at the center of their web, garden spiders hang upside down, jump on prey and paralyze it with injected venom. Like other spiders, garden spiders must liquefy their prey in order to consume it.

The garden spider also uses its extraordinary sense of touch for mating, as males tap upon the webs of females to express their intent. Because males spend the mating season obsessively seeking partners, they typically die of exhaustion and malnutrition following fertilization.

Garden spiders usually live in fields and forests, but occasionally will be found next to homes or in yards.

The most important determining factor in the dwelling place of the garden spider is the presence of twigs, trees, branches or plant leaves on which to construct webs. Garden spider webs are notoriously strong and may reach more than 60 cm in diameter.

Most garden spider habitats are also populated with a variety of potential prey. After prey becomes entangled in the web, garden spiders immobilize their victims and drag them to the center of the web. Prey must be liquefied with digestive enzymes before consumption is possible.

Overall, garden spiders are very beneficial because they help keep insect populations in check. However, their large orb webs can be troublesome to people near walkways, gates, or windows. Garden spiders are not aggressive and only attack when disturbed or handled, although their large webs and size of the adult females does give them a menacing appearance. A garden spider bite is typically less painful than a bee sting and garden spiders will attempt to flee, rather than bite an intruder.

Do They Bite? Are They Poisonous?
Garden spiders typically are not aggressive and are not known to be medically important. It is unlikely that bites would occur unless someone disturbed a female in her web or gave reason for a garden spider to feel threatened. In the unlikely event of a bite, symptoms generally include mild swelling and discomfort that is rarely as painful as a wasp or bee sting.

TIPS FOR CONTROL

These spiders are beneficial animals and are not dangerous, despite their large size. Garden spiders should not be killed, but should be relocated to another part of the yard where they will be out of the way of human traffic.

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Garden spiders weave their orb-shaped webs in sunny places with little or no wind. As long as their insect prey is plentiful, these pests will stay for an entire season. They prefer gardens and grassy areas, anchoring their webs among twigs and stems.
Homeowners may notice a sharp increase in garden spiders from March to May. Spiderlings hatch from egg cases in autumn but lay dormant through the winter. In spring, they leave the egg sac to search for food and mates.
House

House spiders occur throughout the world and have derived their name from their presence inside human dwellings. A number of species are classified as house spiders, although the common house spider is the most recognized. These arachnids are also sometimes referred to as American house spiders.
The common house spider gets its name from the fact that it is usually the spider most often encountered indoors. It is a nuisance pest, probably more because of its webs than the spider itself. The house spider is found worldwide and is common throughout the United States and Canada. 

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Yellowish brown, abdomen dirty white with several dark stripes meeting at angle.
For both females and males, the color is highly variable. 

Adult female house spiders have an almost spherical abdomen and are roughly 3/16-5/16" (5-8 mm) in length. Their male counterparts have elongated abdomens and are about 1/8-3/16" (3.8-4.7 mm) in length.
House spiders have eight eyes with two lateral pairs almost touching. The last tarsal segment of the fourth pair of legs has a row of serrated bristles. 

Why do spiders like living in homes so much?
Probably some of the same reasons that you prefer to live in a home rather than out in a field or forest: shelter. Most animals prefer to spend at least some of their time in a sheltered environment, where they can rest and get refuge from the elements. Spiders are no different in this respect.

Additionally, spiders like to go wherever they’re most likely to get their next meal. Things like trash, food, dirty dishes or excess moisture or humidity attract insects, turning your home into a delicious, all-you-can-eat buffet for any nearby spiders.

Female house spiders lay about 250 eggs in a silken sac that is brownish in color and round in shape. There may be more than one sac in the web at a time. A female house spider may produce up to 17 sacs, containing a total of more than 3,760 eggs, in her lifetime. The eggs hatch in about 7-10 days. Adults may live for a year or more.

The common house spider randomly selects its web sites and creates a tangled web. If a web does not yield prey (food) it is abandoned, another site is selected, and a new web built. Eventually, successful webs are constructed where air currents bring in prey. House spiders have a difficult time surviving in modern homes due to low humidity and fewer insects for food. They are more likely to be found inside structures like garages, sheds, barns and warehouses. Outside, these domestic spiders are often around windows and under eaves, especially near light sources that attract prey.

Inside structures, house spiders are most likely to be found in upper corners, under furniture, in closets, angles of window frames, basements, garages, and crawl spaces. In warehouses, they are common in corners near doors that stay open. Because of their web site selection by trial and error, many house spider webs may be constructed in several days. Dust collecting on these webs accentuates their presence.

Do House Spiders Bite?
House spiders are not known to bite but may do so in threatening situations, such as when they are being crushed. While house spider bites are typically not medically threatening, it is important to seek medical attention in the event of severe swelling, lesions or headaches.

In general, a common house spider is harmless to humans. However, the mere sight of a spider is enough to startle most people and cause unease. Their messy webs also create the need for extra cleaning.

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