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Scientists Warn of New Danger to SoCal Residents: Brown Widow Spiders KTLA News 9:36 a.m. PDT, July 7, 2011 RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KTLA) -- Orange County residents are being asked to help scientists gather brown widow spider eggs in an effort to learn how to control the newly-emerging pest. UC Riverside arachnologist, Rick Vetter, wants residents to mail him the spider's distinctive, spiky egg sacs so that scientists can learn more about the species, the OC Register is reporting. Vetter tells the Register that the brown widow spiders are popping up in areas where black widows typically frequented. Brown widows are native to southern Africa and -- since appearing in Torrance some 8 years ago -- have been spotted all over Southern California. They're better web builders than their cousin, the black widow, but their poisonous bites do not appear to cause as much harm. Brown widows tend to build webs around vegetation, so there's a better chance of getting bitten while outside in a garden. "They could be in the curled leaf of a bird of paradise, a citrus tree," Vetter told the Register. "Those little lights you stick in the ground -- the solar powered night-lights for a pathway." Vetter also says there's a chance of children being bitten by brown widows hiding inside toys left outside. "These things are found in a lot of places where you would think they would be exposed to humans, and there's a possibility of contact and bites," he said. Vetter hopes that by studying the brown widow's egg sacs, the public will know which pesticides might be effective against them and scientists may better understand the species. John Kabashima, who works with the University of California Cooperative Extension and is helping with the study, told the Register that they'll be looking at the habits and biology in Southern California, "because it always changes when it comes to Southern California." If you spot any brown widow egg sacs, you're asked to mail them to: Rick VetterFor more information on brown widow spiders: Wikipedia Brown Widow Spider Calif. Poison Control Center: www.calpoison.org |