Spiders in Southern California
Most spiders are venomous but not harmful.
There are over 40,000 different species of spiders. With the exception of the Uloboridae family, all spiders are venomous. Spiders are 8-legged animals (arachnids) with two-part bodies (cephalothorax and abdomen), biting chelicerae, each with a long fang, and silk glands (from which the web is made) that open through spinnerets at the end of the body. They have 8 eyes and breathe air with lungs located on the underside of their bodies. Southern California is home to a wide range of spider species, from the dangerously venomous black widow and brown widow to the elusive desert recluse. In addition to these, residents often encounter non-venomous spiders like orb weavers, wolf spiders, and jumping spiders.
