Between heat and cold. · spiders.fyi

The surroundings are not uniform

A weather-station air temperature does not describe every place occupied by a spider. Burrows, rock crevices and leaf litter can differ from exposed surfaces. Retreats therefore matter in dry or highly variable environments. The relevant question is not only the regional climate, but where and when the animal is active within it.

Cool habitats belong in the picture

Spiders should not be excluded from cool or seasonally snowy landscapes as a whole. The Australian Museum records wolf spiders from alpine meadows. That does not mean every species is active on snow. Presence within a region, use of protected sites and activity at a measured temperature are different observations.

No adaptation works everywhere

Dryness, water availability and seasons interact with food and reproduction. A useful trait does not confer unlimited tolerance. We therefore avoid claiming that a spider can withstand heat or cold without bounds. More informative questions ask which retreat it uses, when it becomes active and what observations support an explanation.

Sources & image credits

Sources checked: 1 November 2026. Figures and records carry the qualifications stated in each article.