Several weeks ago, I discovered a very large web on my fence near my house. After watching it for quite a few days, and realizing somebody was being very reclusive while they were tending and growing the web, she finally showed herself. Here she is doing battle with a small bee. Guess who won?

I have a question for somebody that knows much more about black widows than I. In the past, when I've found these in my yard or farm in places where I might accidentally stick an ungloved hand or that otherwise might prove not be the best nesting place (for either of us), I've carefully relocated them to safer locations. My limited experience with them indicates they are not aggressive towards non-prey creatures. With this one, she picked a place that is not likely to be used by anything animal or human. In fact, most of the time she stays holed up in a cranny in the fence boards that would be almost impossible to reach into. I've seen her come out only to nab a meal. The question is this...is there any reason I should not just leave her alone where she is? My thoughts are this. I don't kill anything unless there is a really compelling reason, one would have to work hard to reach through the massive web to get near her, she is part of my insect management team, and I now know where she is. I know the place is probably crawling with others like her, and I just don't know about them.

Am I taking too big a risk? She is inside a locked fence, there are no kids around or others that might accidentally stumble across her, and the adults know about her. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Laurie