Eric, a nearby Virginia resident, gave me permission to post these photos he took of a black widow spider…

Hi S.P.

I took these pictures of a black widow under my deck railing this morning. I was leaning on the railing one evening last week and I looked down and saw the random-looking webbing. Then I pulled a bit of it and sure enough, the strands were very sturdy and also sticky. For size reference, the vertical wood is 1.25 by 1.25

I looked underneath and saw her there, but waited until more light today to take the pictures. Later today I will relocate her in my black widow relocation area, about 500 feet and across the road from my house.

Black Widow Spider "Hourglass"

Black Widow Spider