Hi Shelley, We have also been dealing with a large number of the Black Widow spiders. We re-located to northern California from the Mobile, AL area, and found our new neighborhood was just crawling with all sorts of spiders, including a BUNCH of black widows. Here in the San Joaquin valley outside of Stockton, CA, the very hot and dry summers lead to large numbers of these pests. Since I discovered the problem late one night a few months ago, I have killed about six dozen VERY LARGE black widows here just around the outside of our home. The method I used to get them under control here went like this: I am VERY afraid of any spider, ESPECIALLY these, so I used flying wasp and hornet spray (Raid) to kill them from a safe distance. I found this spray will kill spiders almost on contact, in about 30 seconds or so. Hit them directly on the body with one good spray, and they will drop rather quickly. I found that my spiders would hide away from their webs in the heat of the day and come out in the evening hours. I did most of my spider hunting around dusk using a high power flashlight. Black widow spiders spin a unique rather unorganized looking web that is easy to spot once you know what to look for. Most of mine were near ground level with webs going from the house to the ground less than a foot off the ground. Also they were found behind plants, in bushes between flower beds and the house. A few were up on the eves of the house, but mainly they stayed low to the ground. My neighbor left a work truck parked in his driveway without moving it for a month or so. We killed two dozen just under his truck and in the pick-up bed. Our black widows are somewhat larger than I remember back in Alabama. Here they averaged between quarter and half-dollar size, with a few larger than that. For round two, after a week of evening spider hunts with the hornet spray, I went looking for a product to keep them away for good. I found a product called Cyper WP, which is a white powder insecticide you dilute with water and apply with a garden sprayer. ( same as DEMON WP or CYNOFF WP ) Search CYPER WP on GOOGLE This product is recommended for spider control, and it serves as a good all-around pest control agent as well. I purchased it from Pro Pest Products just outside of Atlanta, GA on the web. www.doyourownpestcontrol.com they had good prices and very fast shipping. Their number is 1-800-476-3368 I used this as directed, and after a few weeks or so, we have no more spiders of any kind hanging around. ( or any other insects for that matter....it kills almost everything considered a pest) Once dry, it remains active for about six months or so, according to the online product reviews I read. It also claims to be rather pet-safe after it is dry. I am very satisfied with the results I have seen here. I hope this helps with your spider troubles. Feel free to send me a message if you need any more information. Best Regards, Ryan B.

From what I can tell from the photo, this is an American House Spider(Parasteatoda tepidariorum), which, in spite of the common name, are often found outdoors. This is one of our most common spider species in SC. They are harmless, although their webs are messy if indoors, and they often feed on other spiders. They are in the same family as the Widows(Latrodactus sp.), but do not have medically significant venom, and I've never even known one to bite. They just curl up and drop from their webs like a pebble if disturbed.

It actually one of my favorite spiders, mostly because it makes and remakes its big web in the same place, usually in the garden, rather than somewhere that I walk through and end up with the web all over my face. I also would capture a live stink bug in my house and rather than smash it and have it release its stink, I would sometimes toss it into the web of one of these garden spiders. Usually the spider is on it, wrapping it up in webs completely within seconds, as in this second photo. I had never heard the superstition about "If a signature spider wrote your name, doom was imminent for you!" but given that my name has 'B's and 'O's and 'S'es, I think I'm safe considering the spiders seem to be only able to write 'W's, 'V's, 'M's, 'N's, 'A',s, and 'I's The first spider seems to have it in for VIVIAN perhaps, the second one has poor penmanship, and I cannot make out the first name but the last name seems to start with "MAWN" I am much more bothered and perturbed by this type of spider I've found on and around our property several times.For one of them, (perhaps this one) since it was in a location I might be likely to put my hand, I captured it in a jar put the lid on and threw it in the trash. About an hour later my wife came home and remarked "This jar should be put in the recycling bin" and before I could say anything I heard her scream in fright.

Identifying a spider species accurately requires a close examination of the spider's physical features, as well as information about its behavior and habitat. Unfortunately, without a photo or a specimen, I cannot provide a definitive answer on the species of the spider in question. If you are concerned that the spider may be a brown recluse, it's important to exercise caution and keep a safe distance. Brown recluse bites can cause serious reactions in some people, so it's best to avoid handling the spider and to seek medical attention if you are bitten. If you want to confirm the species of the spider, it is best to take a clear photo of the spider, including its body shape, legs, and distinctive markings, and consult with a professional entomologist or a local university department of entomology. Additionally, if you are in the US, you can also contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance with spider identification.