Golden Silk Orb-Weaver (Nephila)

Have you ever seen a spider’s web that shines like gold? Meet the Golden Silk Orb-Weaver! With 23 different types living around the world, they’re known for their special golden webs. Some people call them Banana Spider or Calico Spider.

Scientific Classification

• Family: Araneidae
• Genus: Nephila

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

• Size: Females are considerably larger than the males, with the former being around 50 mm, and the latter, only around 8.

• Body Color: The spiders belonging to this genus vary from reddish to greenish yellow in coloration, depending upon the species, with a distinct whiteness at the beginning of the abdomen, as well as in the cephalothorax region.

• Other Characteristic Features: These spiders build orb webs that are large and semi-permanent. The webs have ‘barrier network’ of threads on either or both sides of the web which act as a defense from predators. These spiders usually spend the entire day and night in their webs in order to gain protection from predators like birds.

Eggs

The females of the golden silk orb-weaver species lay their eggs in clusters during the fall. They are usually laid by the side of a building or structure, or in the trees near the place where the female has its web. Normally, it lays at least two large sacs each with a diameter of 25 to 30 mm, and containing a few hundred eggs.

Spiderlings

Young spiders do not generally build yellow-colored silk. When approached by a predator, the young spiders can demonstrate the former’s vibrational motion. In such instances, the juveniles begin to oscillate their bodies at around 40 Hz. When attacked, they will either escape to a support strand in the web or jump out of the web after inducing oscillations that help in jumping.

Are Golden Silk Orb-Weaver Spiders Venomous?

Yes, Golden Silk Orb-Weaver spiders have venom. They use it to help grab their meals. But don’t worry, it’s usually not very harmful to people.

Can Golden Silk Orb-Weaver Spiders Bite?

They can bite, but it’s pretty rare. If it happens, it might feel like a small pinch. It’s always best to be kind and gentle with our eight-legged friends!

Quick Facts

Lifespan	The males die in 2-3 weeks after the final molt, while the females live for up to one month
Distribution/Range	Found mostly in the SE parts of the US,  Florida, the Gulf States, the northern part of North Carolina, and in South America’s Argentina, as well as some parts of Australia, Africa, and Asia
Habitat	Tropical forests as well as close to human habitats and humanmade gardens
Common predators	Lizards, birds, some mammals, etc., depending upon their region
Diet	Carnivorous; several organisms ranging from small flies and beetles to larger cicadas, locusts, and even small birds, mammals, lizards, etc.

Did You Know

• The genus name Nephila came from Ancient Greek, meaning ‘fond of spinning’, from the words nein – meaning ‘to spin’, and philos – meaning ‘love’.
• Due to their strong web structure, tiny birds and bats can also fall trapped, and fed upon by these spiders.

Image Credit: Images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com, I.pinimg.com, Alpinetreepro.com, Bugguide.net, Lh3.ggpht.com