Why do black widows hang out in doorways?

maybe since draft comes through the doorways so instinctively they think food will come through it too. i think they hang out by windows too. plus doorways and windows have nooks and crannies they can hide out in. mmm dinner.

A doorway is a convenient web frame with lots of insect traffic.

@bigboss Never really thought of that but that makes a lot of sense.

Id be scared if i caught a lot of black widows in my apt.

yea so would i. i already get freaked out by spiders, now the whole “venom can kill you” concept is just the icing on the cake. those little bastards can hide anywhere. even under the armrests of your chairs and when you reach under them to push or pull your chair. BITE!...you die. shudders

@bigboss 1 bite and you die?!

@JesusWasAJewbot ONE BITE!

@bagelface GET THE FUCK OUT OF THAT APT, ARE YOU NUTS?!

well actually im not really sure, i know the venom is serious but immediate medical attention will save you. unless your stuck sumwhere where there are no hospitals, just calling 911 will be ok.

little black and red murderers!

Black widows are know for their messy, disorganized webs found in sheltered areas such as brush piles or wood piles. They are considered quite shy and their bites are often as a result of their hidden locations – they are usually overlooked. While serious, their bites are rarely fatal.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/black-widow-spider.html

thanks @syz for the clarification. yea they dont really seek you out, only bite if your invadintg in their space like most animals do. they dont just go around looking to kill people, so @JesusWasAJewbot you dont need to worry too much.

Thanks, @syz, for introducing some reason into the panic-fest here. :P I was about to do the same. Actually, I’m surprised they’re hanging out in the doorway, as they’re pretty shy usually and like dark places like wood piles and garage corners. And, yeah, the venom is toxic, but not very likely to kill you. Personally, I’m way more concerned about Brown Recluses.. their venom causes necrosis of the skin and it’s really ugly. Don’t look up pictures unless you’re prepared to be horrified.

I think they hang out in doorways because it’s convenient for their webs. I once found one in my shed though. I flipped out! I had to have my brother come over and smash it for me :D

another reason they hang out in doors….black widows have been known to have a problem with commitment. this is shown by their indecision of whether they want to be out of the house or in the house. so they just stay in the middle. those bastards.