The warm climate of Riverside County and San Bernardino County provides a suitable habitat for several spider species, including the notorious widow spiders: the black widow and the brown widow. While both are venomous, understanding their distinct characteristics, habitats, and potential dangers is crucial for protecting yourself, your family, and your pets.

Black Widow Spiders (Latrodectus hesperus)

The black widow is perhaps the most recognizable spider in North America. Adult females are glossy black with a distinctive red hourglass marking on the underside of their abdomen. They are relatively large, with a body length of about ½ inch, not including their legs. Males are much smaller, brown, and often have red or white markings on their sides but are rarely seen. Black widows prefer secluded, undisturbed areas such as woodpiles, sheds, garages, under rocks, and in meter boxes. They build irregular, tangled webs in these protected spaces. Their diet consists primarily of insects, but they will also consume other arthropods. Black widow venom is a neurotoxin that affects the nervous system. A bite can cause immediate pain at the site, followed by muscle cramps, abdominal pain, nausea, sweating, and difficulty breathing. While bites are rarely fatal, they can be particularly dangerous for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

Brown Widow Spiders (Latrodectus geometricus)

The brown widow is a relative newcomer to the Inland Empire, but it has become increasingly common in recent years. They are typically light brown to grayish in color with black and white markings on their legs. They also have an hourglass marking on their underside, but it is often orange or yellowish and less distinct than the black widow’s. Their egg sacs are spiky, unlike the smooth, silken sacs of the black widow. Brown widows are more adaptable than black widows and can be found in a wider range of habitats, including urban areas, gardens, under patio furniture, and even inside homes. They often build their webs in more exposed locations. Similar to black widows, brown widows feed on insects and other arthropods. While brown widow venom is thought to be as potent as black widow venom, they inject significantly less venom when they bite. Their bites are often less painful and produce milder symptoms, typically limited to localized pain and redness. However, some individuals may experience more severe reactions.

Widow Spiders in Southern California and the Dangers They Pose

Both black and brown widow spiders are found throughout our area, thriving in the region’s warm, dry climate. It is important to be cautious when working in areas where they are likely to be found, such as garages, sheds, and gardens. For humans, black widow bites can cause significant pain and discomfort, although fatalities are rare. Brown widow bites are generally less severe. If bitten by either spider, it’s advisable to clean the bite area with soap and water and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or become severe. Pets, especially smaller ones, can be more susceptible to the effects of widow spider venom. If you suspect your pet has been bitten, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Prevention and Control

To prevent widow spiders from establishing themselves around your home, eliminate harborage sites by removing clutter and debris from around your home, including woodpiles, rocks, and old tires. When working in areas where widow spiders are likely to be found, wear gloves and long sleeves. Regularly inspect potential harborage sites around your home for webs and spiders. If you have a significant widow spider problem, consider contacting a professional pest control service. They can safely and effectively eliminate spiders from your property.

Key Differences at a Glance

By understanding the characteristics and habits of black and brown widow spiders, you can take steps to minimize your risk of encounters and protect your family and pets. If you have concerns about a spider infestation, call Craig & Sons at 909-335-1486 quickly.

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Now that the weather is warming up, the spiders will come out of hiding. You might not have seen spiders in your home during the winter, but that doesn’t mean they were gone. If the thought of spiders in your home leaves you feeling apprehensive, there are some steps you can take to keep them away.

1. Know the Spiders in Your Yard

If you hate spiders, you probably think that they’re all bad. However, that’s not actually the case. Some spiders are quite beneficial for your yard. In fact, they’ll do their best to keep other pests away from your home. The trick is to know the spiders in your yard. Once you’re able to identify the spiders, you’ll know which ones are hazardous to your health and which ones are beneficial.

2. Relocate Your Trash Cans

If you’re like most people, you probably keep your trash cans near your home. This is common in the Riverside and Redlands areas. That way, you don’t have to walk as far to toss your garbage out. However, that close proximity to your home may invite spiders onto your property. This is particularly true if your trash cans are dirty, or debris are scattered on the ground nearby.

You see, trash cans attract pests such as cockroaches and flies. Unfortunately, those pests then attract spiders. To reduce the spider population, move your trash cans away from your home and keep the debris cleaned up. You should also wash your trash cans at least once a month.

3. Take Care With the Pet Food

Pets can also pose an increased risk of spider infestations, especially where the food is concerned. This happens in a couple of ways. First, like the trash cans, pet food attracts other pests, which increases the spider population.

Second, storage bins provide shelter for spiders. To keep the spiders away, store pet food in airtight containers and keep the containers up off the ground. Also, keep the area around your pet’s food bowls clean and dry.

4. Put Your Landscaping to Work for You

Your landscaping plays a big role in your battle against spider infestations. This is especially true in the Inland Empire. Take a look at a few tips that will help reduce the spider population around your house.

Choose the Right Plants

To keep spiders away, choose the right plants for your yard. You want to choose plants that attract ladybugs. That’s because ladybugs prefer to dine on spiders. Coriander, dill, and geraniums are particularly good at attracting ladybugs.

Go Heavy on the Ground Cover

If you have bare soil in your gardens, add cedar chips as a ground cover. The cedar chips help keep spiders out of your gardens. As an added benefit, the cedar chips will also help keep weeds away.

Clear Away the Debris

As a final step to spider-proofing your landscaping, clear away the debris, especially around the foundation of your home. Weeds and tall grass provide shelter, which attract the spiders.

5. Do Some Heavy Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning doesn’t just clear away the cobwebs. The process also helps keep the spiders away. While you’re busy with your spring cleaning, spend time in the problem areas such as the garage, attic, and closets. Those are the areas where spiders tend to hide out while the weather is cold.

If you want to make sure that spiders stay away, invest in a pest control service. Year-round pest treatments and web removals keep spiders and other pests away from your home. If you’ve noticed spider activity around your house, contact us at Craig & Sons Termite & Pest Control, Inc. We’ll make sure the spiders, and other pests, stay away from your home.

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In summer, one of the pests that many homeowners struggle with are black widow spiders. Knowing how to identify a black widow spider, where to find them, and how to get rid of them can help homeowners protect themselves and their families from this venomous pest.

What Do Black Widow Spiders Look Like?

Mature female black widow spiders are about an inch and a half long and have black, shiny bodies. They also have a red hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen. This distinctive, colorful marking makes it easy to identify a female black widow. Mature males are half the size of females, and have small red, yellow or pink markings on their back.

Do All Black Widow Spiders Bite People?

Female black widow spiders are among the most venomous spiders in North America, but male black widow spiders are generally considered to be harmless to humans. Juvenile black widows are also considered harmless.

What Are the Symptoms of a Female Black Widow Spider Bite?

A person who is bitten by a female black widow spider can experience a variety of symptoms including chills, fever, sweating, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, back ache, belly ache, muscle cramps, and spasms. These symptoms can increase in severity as the hours go on.

A person who has been bitten by a black widow spider must seek medical attention right away. Ice applied to the area can help control pain and swelling. Children and seniors often experience the symptoms of a black widow spider bite more severely than adults.

Where Do Black Widows Live?

Black widows typically choose quiet, dark places to build a web or lay their eggs. Typical places where you can find a black widow spider includes the shed, garage, in the crawl space or basement, in a wood pile, or around the barbecue pit. Black widows like to avoid human activity whenever possible, so when they can be found in residential settings, it’s usually in a dark corner where people rarely go. Typically, black widows are found outside the home instead of inside.

Are Black Widows Aggressive?

Female black widow spiders can be aggressive when they’re defending their eggs. If there are no eggs for the black widow to defend, she is much more likely to run than to stay and bite a person.

Are Black Widows a Threat to Pets?

Black widow spiders can be as much a threat to pets as they are to people. Pets who are bitten by a black widow spider may display a number of characteristics including cramping, paralysis, drooling, vomiting, tremors, disorientation, and uncoordinated walking.

Black widow bites can kill pets if the wound does not receive proper medical attention, so pet owners must be aware of the symptoms of a black widow spider bite so they can get their pet medical treatment in a timely fashion.

When Are Black Widows Most Active?

These spiders are most active in the summer time when they’re mating and defending their eggs. During the colder times of the year, black widows are often not seen in winter, when they enter a state similar to hibernation.

How Can you Protect Your Property from Black Widows?

Black widows can be exterminated just like other spiders through regular pest control treatments from a reliable pest control company. Many homeowners who have black widows on their property will sign up for quarterly or monthly treatments to help them control black widow populations.

If you have more questions about black widows and how you can control black widows on your property, contact Craig & Sons Termite and Pest Control Inc . We’re happy to answer questions about black widows.

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