Golden Silk Spider (Nephila clavipes)
The Golden Silk Spider, Nephila clavipes (Linnaeus), is a large, greenish yellow to orange and brown spider with a white to silver cephalothorax, and tufts of hair, on legs, which may span nearly 5 inches. They are also known as Banana spiders because of the shape of a body (abdomen), which may be 1.5-2 inches long. People, from hikers to homeowners, in Florida and the southeastern U.S., are very familiar with the large golden webs of this spider. Typical prey consists of flying insects like moths, beetles and bees.
General Biology
Nephila clavipes is the only species of the genus, and the largest non Tarantula spider found occurring in the Western Hemisphere. It is found throughout Florida, as far north as North Carolina, south through the Gulf States, and Argentina in South America.
Golden Silk spiders produce one generation per year in North America. Adult males are present from July to September, with the majority of females maturing in August and found late into the fall, when they produce at least two large egg sacs consisting of several hundred eggs in a basket of curly yellow silk. More egg sacs may be produced in warmer climates.
The webs of these spiders are finely meshed and 1-2 meters in diameter. They are often strung between trees and shrubs or eave lines and windows, resulting in disturbing encounters between spider and unwary human. Fortunately, they bite only when held, squeezed or otherwise threatened, and the bite generally produces localized pain with slight redness. The net result is less severe than a bee sting and symptoms generally disappear in a couple of days.
Control Options
Golden Silk spiders are generally harmless and non-invasive. They can be relocated by using a broom to place the spider in a tree or shrub away from the home or walkway. Webs are not torn down and replaced periodically by the spider, so relocation is an effective, chemical free control method. If chemicals are preferred, be sure to use a chemical labeled for spider control.
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