Couple of wasps and spiders

We also have the big shiny black with red hourglass underneath.  The brown widows, Latrodectus geometricus (picture posted in OP) can be a near solid brown (dark or light), or patterned.  They also have the red hourglass.  Introduced, that's what they said.  BROWN WIDOW SPIDER 

The brown widow is suspected to have evolved in Africa although it was first described from South America, which adds confusion as to where it might have originated.  The Brown Widow Spider is a cosmopolitan tropical and subtropical spider having established populations in Hawaii, Florida, some Caribbean Islands, parts of Australia, South Africa, Japan, and Cyprus.  In North America, the Brown Widow Spider was restricted for many decades to the Florida peninsula.  However, around the year 2000, it started showing up in other Gulf Coast states.  Brown widows are now known from Texas to Georgia and South Carolina.  As specimens were found in new locations in the southeastern United States, this species was simultaneously being collected with greater frequency in southern California.  The first specimens were collected in Torrance in 2003.  After that, the spider was found with greater frequency in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.

The scorpion is a Desert Hairy, from the desert, not indigenous to San Diego, did not find its way into the house. It was brought home from the desert, put into a 1 gallon glass jar, and placed on the counter in the bathroom (A place we felt safe the cats would not get up there and knock it over.)

There are some much smaller ones (less than an inch) that live nearby in undeveloped areas. I'm told stings from these small ones are worse than stings from the bigger ones. I have never seen one of these small ones come into the house, not like the problem Mel has with them in TX.

I ain't Jean and dont know what a doodle bug is, but we got these:



The only wildlife I absolutely hate and the only bug that freaks my kidlet out. We call 'em potato bugs but the correct name is Jeruslaem cricket. I have seen them nearing three inches in total length. Pick them up and they bite harder than most lizards.

Oh yeah, the extraterrestrial bugs! I used to find a lot of them digging in my garden near San Luis Obispo. They're big, nasty looking and aggressive. One bit me while I was digging in the ground with my hands and it really hurt. The bug paid the ultimate price however.

Doodle bug hint:

Could those be what we call rolly pollys Pat?

james, yes. Look like it. If I see one on its back, I help flip it over.

I am glad you have experienced an ant lion. Poor ants, we used to drop them in there craters and watch that monster pull ants under the sand and dissolve them.

I knew you were a movie star Jean.

Is that you the last time you were innocent ? I think it is you Jean. A so cute child.