black widows

the female black widow is shy and nocturnal in habit. she does not leave her hidden web voluntarily and is completely out of her area when away from the web. outbreaks of black widows occur erratically. some years an area may have thousands of widows and the next year they may be gone. certain kinds of habitats such as sand dune areas may have black widows every year. alternating warm and cold weather during the winter and spring months are detrimental to survival.