During the hotter months of the year, we get a lot of calls from people wanting us to get rid of their “brown recluse” spiders. Truth is, here in Southern California we don’t get brown recluse spiders. If we did see an influx in brown recluse spiders here it would probably be plastered all over the news, since we know them as the spider that can cause necrosis or even death. Fact of the matter is, we don’t really get brown recluses here and most of the time what we are actually seeing are brown widows.
People who study insects have been confused for over a decade about the rise of brown widows in Southern California, especially since they seem to be pushing the black widow spiders out of the state. Studies have shown brown widows have a 70% numbers advantage over black widows. Whether that’s because they are eating all the black widows or their population is just dwindling is up to much speculation and no definitive reason has been given. The brown widow is a very new pest in this region of the world.
Should I be worried?
Studies have shown brown widows to be significantly less aggressive than black widows. They are also a bit less reclusive than black widows. Where you might find black widows under stairwells or in the nooks and crannies of your garage, brown widows tend to be out in the open. Usually around areas with a good amount of shade, but more exposed. They have shown tendencies to mostly be aggressive when they believe their web or eggs are threatened, whereas black widows are known for being a bit more territorial and violent. Brown widows also have shown to be less venomous, but studies into whether this is true or not have not yet been made definitive.
Are they brown Recluses?
No, brown widows are not the same as the brown recluse.
First and foremost, brown widows look significantly different than a brown recluse. Most wouldn’t be able to tell a brown widow apart from a normal house spider if they weren’t throwing up alarms because of the brown hue of the spider. Brown recluses look much more exotic, and to be frank, significantly more menacing.
That being said, any insect, reptile or other animal known for being venomous is dangerous to some extent. Some threaten young kids or people who are highly allergic. However, not all venomous insects are inherently deadly, though it is always important to be cautious. Some studies have shown that even the dreaded brown recluse might not be quite as dangerous as the Discovery Channel would have you believe. Many cases of necrosis due to insect bites don’t always have absolute proof of what exactly bit the victim.
Brown recluse or not, brown widows are still venomous. A bite from any poisonous animal will leave, at the very least, some sort of painful welt that could lead to some health issues. As well, since they are less likely to be as reclusive than a black widow, it can be even more possible for a child or pet to stumble upon one in a backyard or patio. Pest control, whether done yourself or by a professional, is the most effective way to minimize the risks of you or your children being bitten.
No, brown recluses are not brown widows. And the likelihood of finding a brown recluse in Southern California is almost impossible. Organizations that collect and analyze insect statistics have noted many times that when being sent anonymous specimens of “brown recluse” spiders, roughly 80% of the donations are actually brown widows.
So if you are currently scouring the internet looking for information in fear of these things killing your family, you can rest easy.