September 29, 2009

Venomous spider spreads in California

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.