The Widow and the Recluse. Sounds like an interesting title for a movie. But you do NOT want to find this deadly duo in your home! Discover what other spiders you should be aware of when you're bugging out or hanging out in California. You never know what creepy crawlers may be lurking in your midst!

Widow Spiders in California
As its name suggests, the Western Black Widow (Latrodectus Hesperus) is found across western regions of the USA.

The females are the ones to look out for when it comes to poisonous bites. They are jet black in color and have the distinctive red hourglass markings on their lower abdomen (although in some cases, the hour glass can be yellow in color, or even occasionally white).

Widow Bites
Note that the bite itself may feel like just a small pin prick at the time, or may not even be noticed. Symptoms don’t usually start until 1 to 3 hours after the poisonous bite and may include:

Severe pain

Headache

Muscle and abdominal cramps

Nausea

Convulsions and tremors

Excessive sweating

Lesions in the bite area

Vomiting

Unconsciousness

To start with, the venom just affects the area of the bite, but then it gradually it travels around the body via the lymphatic system, before getting into the bloodstream. Symptoms normally persist for 3 – 5 days maximum. It is extremely unlikely that a Widow bite will be fatal if the victim receives medical treatment.

Recluse Spiders in California
Out of the two types mentioned in this article, the recluse is definitely the most poisonous spider in California. Recluse spiders are nocturnal and like to hide away in dark places. They are seldom seen by humans. Bites usually occur when someone reaches or feels around in an area that they can’t see, or when someone puts on an old item of clothing that the spider was hiding in.

Recluse Bites
The effects of a brown recluse bite can vary enormously, from virtually no effect, all the way up to death (in very rare instances).

Symptoms of a bite typically start between 2 and 6 hours afterwards and can include:

Blistering

Severe pain

Chills

Fever

Nausea

Necrosis at the site of the bite

Lesions

Unfortunately, there is no effective anti-venom for recluse bites, but medical care should still be found as swiftly as possible.

So take note! Don't blindly stick your feet in shoes that have been sitting in dark corners, and always be aware of your surroundings. Although these spiders don't generally seek out humans to bite, they won't hesitate if they feel threatened. To learn more about these two venomous spiders, visit Owlcation!

Featured Image via Macroscopic Solutions/Flickr