San Diego Spiders (La Mesa, Lakeside, Needles: apartments, houses, garage)

[Starrynight227]

So, I just moved to SD, specifically La Mesa and I've noticed some very interesting spiders on our property. The first one we found was in the garage. We caught it, looked it up on the net and it looks very much like a brown recluse (i.e. violin spider). Most sites said SD does not have brown recluses so we could be wrong. But then what is it? Has anyone else noticed a large light brown spider around? And what is it?

Secondly, we found a spider that is brown, long legged and a red/orange marking on it's belly. We looked that up and found what is called a "Brown Widow", a relative to the black widow but doesn't dispense quite as much venom in it's bite.

Are these spiders normal in SD? Or is it just because the house we bought was vacant for a while? Is this something I should do something about and what? I'm worried about my dogs mainly and of course rolling over in bed and getting a nasty bite.

Thanks in advance!

[kettlepot]

Interesting about the Brown Widow. Just this weekend I found a spider web with eggs in the handles of my garbage can. The spider looked like a Black widow with the same shape and orange belly, however instead of a black body, it was more of an ashy white color. Needless to say, both the spider and the egg sacs met a very timely end. No PETA like sympathies from me regarding anything that even hints at being related to a Widow.

[dvflyer]

Seems like there are lots of spiders these days. I think the heat drives them into the houses.

[jsmith]

We are also in La Mesa and for the second time in a month, we have one of those strange-looking very large brown spiders in our home. I have no idea what it is but I know it's not the typical San Diego brown spider. Anyone have any ideas?

[NYSD1995]

It's the heat and humidity, it's making the ants and spiders go nuts right now. I just got back from vacation and everything outside is covered in spiders webs and marching ants trails. I found one of those "Brown Widow" in my garage this morning too.

[mjkk2001]

Is there any way to prevent them from coming in? I am afraid of spiders, and how often do they come in houses and/ or apartments?

[lakerat]

Very possible it is a Wolf Spide. Lots of those in SD area. As a kid in Lakeside, I used to handle them a lot with no problem. Watch out for them Black Widows though.

[Starrynight227]

Originally Posted by lakerat

Very possible it is a Wolf Spide. Lots of those in SD area. As a kid in Lakeside, I used to handle them a lot with no problem. Watch out for them Black Widows though.

That's good to hear. We have those brown widows all over around our house. They're very aggressive too

[mjkk2001]

Again, is there any way to prevent them from coming in your place?

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by mjkk2001

Again, is there any way to prevent them from coming in your place?

Seal all the windows and doors? I mean, it's a bug, you share the world with them.