Everyone knows about the black widow spider. Take a bite. Look for a new mate.

Among tree people, the term “widow maker” describes a tree hazard that’s just as deadly as the black widow.

The phrase “widow maker” originated with woodcutters working in unmaintained forests, says Barrie Coate, a Los Gatos, Calif. arborist and oak tree specialist. “It’s used to describe a broken or dead branch in a tree that is hanging or ready to fall. It falls on you and your wife’s a widow,” he says.

“Widow makers” can be found on all kinds of trees, but conifers are among the most likely contenders to drop a limb on an unsuspecting passerby.

The moral of all this? Check your mature trees regularly for signs of dead or dying branches or weak limbs. Hire a certified arborist to examine suspect trees.

If limbs need work, hire a professional. Dangerous limbs are no place for a homeowner to be climbing around with a chain saw.