There have been reported bites in Cali. I was looking at this website where people tell their stories and turn in pics if they have them of being bitten by them and out of about 50 ones I skimmed through like 5 of them were from Cali. They all seemed to be from little towns out in the desert though.
I don't know about Black Widow's but I've read it takes a lot to get a Brown Recluse to bite you.
Why when I read "Aren't they more on the conservative end?" did I picture some Republican spiders chillin'? I think I'm drunker then I thought.
I know in WA, I rarely saw them. Like I said if you go under a house or in a deep dark basement yeah, you'll find one. As far as conservative end, I mean, they only bite if for some reason you are picking them up and shit.
Here in Cali, well, weather is better, so I expect to see them out. I have not seen a brown Recluse, but I have seen Black widows about. I was working on my car and next thing i see is a black widow walking near my face while I was underneath the car. It wasnt attacking me, just walking by. I killed that mutha fuka wid the quickness.
Those 2 spiders I wouldnt mind if they were killed to extinction.