- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
No we aren't here to tell you we found one. Because brown recluse spiders do not live in California.
Don't believe this last statement? Then please read the recently updated publication Pest Notes: Brown Recluse and Other Recluse Spiders by UC Riverside spider expert Richard S. Vetter.
Brown recluse spiders are among the most talked about spiders in California and one that many other brown spiders from different and non-threatening groups get confused with. But there are actually no populations of brown recluse spiders in California.
We encourage all our subscribers to read the Pest Notes: Brown Recluse and Other Recluse Spiders to understand how this spider impacts (or doesn't impact) California residents.
![Brown recluse spider. (Credit: Rick Vetter, UCR) Brown recluse spider. (Credit: Rick Vetter, UCR)](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/56719.jpg)
![Range of the brown recluse spider in the United States. (Credit: Rick Vetter, UCR) Range of the brown recluse spider in the United States. (Credit: Rick Vetter, UCR)](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/56720.png)
Brown widow spiders are now common in urban areas of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Diego and San Bernardino counties. People have also reported finding them in Ventura and Santa Barbara, and experts believe they may eventually be found in other areas of the state.
You can read more about widow spiders in California in the newly updated Widow Spiders and Their Relatives Pest Note, byRick S. Vetter, which was previously titled Black Widow and Other Widow Spiders.