Killer bees and brown widows (San Diego, Ontario: houses, living in, dangerous)

[foxjol]

Hello,
I'd love to move to San Diego( Carlsbad area or Encinnitas )...on the west coast in general.
I've read many pages here on the web about the KILLER BEES, the africanized honesy bees.
Are there many in San Diego?
Which counties in California are the less infestated by these bees?
Do you know anyone attacked by them?
Are they a real danger?
What about those brown widows??? Read about them as well...and seems they 've been established on the coastal villages in particular.
Please , hope you can help me with that!!
Now I'm a bit scared of moving to California.

[ffdan.k]

As long as you don't bother them, they won't bother you
If your letting insects prevent you from living in California...I don't know what to say...But there everywhere .
I love the bee's, they help pollinate the plants and give honey..

Brown widows? I dunno Black widows...Yes, but just squash them with a newspaper like I do.

[foxjol]

I'm so worried because I read on many articles that killer bees are very territorial and first thing is to defend their hive! So they can attack everyone even if 1 Km far from the nest...and they go on being agitated ( and so dangerous) for the next 24 hours.
I read they are very sensible to vibrations, high pitch sounds, and even the smell of the fresh cut grass can make them to swarn and attack!
I read that almost all the bees in San Diego are killer bees.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by foxjol

I'm so worried because I read on many articles that killer bees are very territorial and first thing is to defend their hive! So they can attack everyone even if 1 Km far from the nest...and they go on being agitated ( and so dangerous) for the next 24 hours.
I read they are very sensible to vibrations, high pitch sounds, and even the smell of the fresh cut grass can make them to swarn and attack!
I read that almost all the bees in San Diego are killer bees.

Yes, just about all Honey Bees here are Africanized Bees. I try to avoid the term Killer Bees, that to me implies that they're out to get you regardless of the other things a bees life entails.

Listen, I'm allergic to bee stings yet I've not been attacked by the bees here. While they are physically indistinguishable from the Italian Honey Bees we're used to (they actually are the same species), you can distinguish them by certain behavioral characteristics. If they nest in the ground or on object on it, they're Africanized. If they're buzzing around sweet sources like soda, that's also a clue. Basically if you're in San Diego you won't notice anything any different and everyone in San Diego goes about their lives with bees being the furthest thing from their minds. The media really likes to hype these things up. 10 years ago when the first AB's were found they really made a big deal about it. Guess what? Nothing bad has happened.

We have Black Widows as most of the US does. Not heard of a Brown Widow but we do have Brown Recluse Spiders. For Black Widows, unless you're outside foraging for something under logs or other cool dry places, you won't see a Black Widow. If you are doing that a Black Widow may be one of the things you're after lol. Brown Recluses sometimes get into houses but you will know them when you see them. Spider bites here are generally no more than anywhere else and quite likely less so than many places.

There may be plenty of reasons not to move to San Diego but insects and spiders certainly do not rank among those reasons.

[sdjimbob]

The brown widows are a recent arrival. I've seen exactly one only on the trail that runs next to 163 in Balboa Park, and it was the egg sac that got me looking closer....the sacs are unmistakable.

Foxjol, I'm wondering if your current safe location might be the best bet for you. We haven't told you about the rattlesnakes, black widows, mountain lions, and great whites yet. But worst of all are the human drivers at Mira Mesa & Black Mountain!

[Crownpoint]

I've come across two Brown Widows within the past 3 months. One on my former four story apt balcony, and one currently living in the gate hinge to the front of my yard. My apt. was against the Kendall-Frost Wetland Preserve, and my current residence is only a few streets away from it, so I'm not really surprised to see them. Brown Widows have the same crunchy webs as well as the same body as Black Widows. Though their coloration reminds me of Orb Weavers, (Way different web styles, and Orb Weavers are good spiders to have!) They also seem to be less timid in where they place their webs.

While dangerous, if you have pest control come out or just spray around your property yourself, you shouldn't have to worry about spiders in or around your home much.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by sdjimbob

The brown widows are a recent arrival. I've seen exactly one only on the trail that runs next to 163 in Balboa Park, and it was the egg sac that got me looking closer....the sacs are unmistakable.

Foxjol, I'm wondering if your current safe location might be the best bet for you. We haven't told you about the rattlesnakes, black widows, mountain lions, and great whites yet. But worst of all are the human drivers at Mira Mesa & Black Mountain!

That is the intersection from hell!!!

[Gentoo]

...and oh yes the Mountain Lions. Forgot about them and the rattlesnakes.

[sdurbanite]

Just had an attack yesterday in Alpine -

Bee Attack: Killer bee attack sends landscaper to hospital - KSWB

[foxjol]

So these attacks happen to be more frequent lately....Tell me please.
I 'd really like to move to San Diego...but too many things are frightening me..
I'm seriously thinking to move to Toronto,Ontario!
I know...the opposite of San Diego...Snow there...But the city seems to be nice...Good transportation service(tube,buses)it's very safe there and spring and summer are very nice season to live there with all the green spaces, the parks ,central island and the lake beaches.
San Diego...looks great...But scares me because of those matters.