Knowledgebase
Spider id #442682
Asked March 06, 2018, 11:56 PM EST
Los Angeles County California
Expert Response
Dear Client,
The spider in your images looks like it is a female western black widow spider, Lactodectus hesperus. Please do not panic! Yes, the venom of the female black widow spider is toxic to humans and other vertebrates. But these spiders are very shy and totally non-aggressive. They will bite in self defense and are rumored to get more defensive when they are in proximity to their egg mass. This spider is far more common in California and the Pacific Northwest than people realize. The risk of bites from the black widow are very low; however, it would be prudent to take extra precautions when working in the areas where black widows are found to make that risk even smaller. Always wear thick gloves when working in those areas where you have noticed these spiders. Sweep or vacuum in areas where you have seen black widow spider and remove any silk webbing. Be sure to wear long sleeved shirts, long pants and proper footwear to cover as much as your skin surface area when you are sweeping, vacuuming or working in these areas. Please remember that spiders are considered beneficial outdoors because they feed on other insects and spiders. Indoors, where they are in the wrong place, wrong time they are considered an nuisance pest.
http://pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/Search/MainMenuWithFactSheet.aspx?CategoryId=3&ProblemId=807
https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/structural-health/nuisance-household/nuisance-household-spider
Hope this helps!