8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 13-19, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS A new spider has been discovered crawling around coastal sand dunes from Moss Landing to Baja California, Mexico. Aptostichus ramirezae is a type of trapdoor spider—a chunky, hairy, brown spider roughly the size of a quarter. They are small and elusive relatives to tarantulas; this species is one of four known trapdoor spiders in California living exclusively in coastal dune habitats. The females spend their life burrowed underground with a camouflaged (and hinged) door, emerging only in pursuit of prey when they feel the ground vibrating above. A study published by UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology revealed that what was thought to be just one species of spider was actually two; the new spider is found to be a close relative of Aptostichus simus. While the two are nearly impossible to tell apart based on morphology alone, an analysis of genetic testing revealed separate lineages and genetic groups. In science, the nuance matters. Both species, while found in similar habitats, have different distributions and are reproductively isolated— variables that can make certain species vulnerable. Understanding the genetic differences provide scientists with insight into which populations need protection most. “They’re definitely at risk, especially the lineage A. simus,” said Emma Jochim, an author of the study, in an announcement. “The new species has a much wider range, but A. simus is now really only found in San Diego, and projections for sea-level rise in that area are very grim. These spiders are not really able to adapt that quickly to new habitats.” Neighbors Underfoot Scientists identify a new species of spider that lives underground in coastal sand dunes. By Katie Rodriguez For years, Sylvia Jones, 88, and her two adult sons and a granddaughter lived in Jones’ house at 1460 Mescal St. in Seaside. On June 17, Jones relocated to an assisted living facility in Pacific Grove and left her belongings behind. Jones moved not by her own choice, but as a conservatee of the Public Guardian, an office that steps in when there is reason to believe a person is unable to adequately care for and make decisions for themselves. The Public Guardian has decision-making authority and control of the assets of about 650 Monterey County conservatees. “It was a somewhat chaotic scene because the conservatee’s family was not happy about what was happening and were somewhat combative with the Public Guardian,” according to court papers signed by Supervising Deputy Public Guardian Lizette Vasquez. The Public Guardian was back in court on Oct. 1 to make the case to sell Jones’ home. Over objections from family members, Judge Julie Culver granted the County’s petition. The home was padlocked and the windows boarded up. It was listed for sale on Oct. 24 for $649,000 and is under contract as of Nov. 7. The Public Guardian’s office declined to be interviewed for this story, but public court documents show officials believe Jones’ two sons and granddaughter were living in the home rent-free and using Jones’ money to pay for their own expenses. On Oct. 30, a group of about 20 friends and neighbors organized through Building Healthy Communities are protesting out front, arguing that Jones is capable of making decisions for herself. On the garage door they’ve taped up a sign that reads, “Public Guardian stole this house.” Lisa Lewis, a friend and Jones’ ex-daughter-in-law, is clutching an American flag. When a crew came by to remove Jones’ belongings, a neighbor alerted Lewis. She showed up and fished out objects with sentimental value from the trash, including this flag that she says was sent home with the body of Jones’ first husband, who was killed in the Vietnam War. Lewis says Jones remains lucid and comprehends what is happening. She visits her elder regularly and in a recent video, recorded a conversation in which she told Jones about the sale of her home. “They didn’t have the right to do that without talking to me,” Jones tells the camera. “That’s dirty. I’m gonna raise me some hell.” While conserved, Jones herself is not in a position to raise hell, but Lewis is unrelenting. In an Oct. 24 letter to the court urging a judge to slow the process down, she wrote, “To the Public Guardian, Sylvia is just a case number, but for us, she is our family member who deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.” At the protest, Regina Mason says the community could have readily stepped in to provide care if needed. She sees a systems failure that perpetuates a longstanding difficulty for Black families to build intergenerational wealth, and says a sale like this exacerbates gentrification of Seaside. “What is happening here is an atrocity,” Mason says. “We could have helped resolve this, instead of coming in with guns blazing. This could have been a non-issue.” The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 19. About 20 people protested outside of the Seaside home formerly belonging to Sylvia Jones on Thursday, Oct. 30. The house is under contract. Not At Home Friends of a Seaside woman protest her conservatorship and her home going up for sale. By Sara Rubin The new spider was named for Martina Giselle Ramirez, an arachnologist who led work on trapdoor spider genetics and has championed underrepresented students in STEM disciplines. “They didn’t have the right to do that without talking to me.” DANIEL DREIFUSS EMMA JOCHIM/UC DAVIS
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