The brown widow spider is a little known spider that can be found throughout the Southeast and parts of the Northeast in North America. This spider is a cousin to the black widow, and has a very similar makeup. There are some major differences in the black widow and the brown widow, but they are very similar species. There are also other versions of widow spiders such as the red widow, the Northern black widow, and the Southern black widow. Each of these spiders are variations of the typical black widow, but are independent spiders.
A South African spider more poisonous than its cousin the black widow is spreading throughout the most southern part of California, authorities said.
The brown widow first was spotted in San Diego in 2004 and since has multiplied by the thousands, KTLA-TV reported Tuesday.
The brown widow recently was seen as far south as Imperial Beach, near the Mexican border, and as far north as Carlsbad in northern San Diego County.
Brown widows are also being seen inland, rather than just in ocean communities where they first were spotted, authorities told KTLA.
The spider's venom is more potent than the black widow and can hospitalize people bitten just once. The brown widow multiples quickly, with each egg hatching as many as 35 baby spiders in 20 days, KTLA reported.
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