Giant Banana Spider

In the U.S southeastern states, the golden silk orb weaver spider, a large orange and brown spider with the feathery tufts on its legs, is well know to most native southerners. It is particularly despised by hikers and hunters, as during late summer and fall the large golden webs of this species make a sticky trap for the unwary.

During late summer, the ladies of this native spider grow bodies up to 2 inches long, not counting their legs, and weave webs as wide as 15 feet.

However, as is typical with most spiders, there is little real danger from an encounter with the golden silk spider. The spider will bite only if held or pinched, and the bite itself will produce only localized pain with a slight redness, which quickly goes away. On the whole, the bite is much less severe than a bee string.

Typically, the webs are made in open woods or edges of dense forest, usually attached to trees and low shrubs, although they may be in the tops of trees or between the wires of utility lines.

Prey consists of a wide variety of small to medium-sized flying insects, including flies, bees, wasps, and small moths and butterflies. They have also been seen feeding on small beetles and dragonflies.