Come On Now...It's Just a Spider

I was surprised to see this beautiful female Golden Silk Orb-weaver spider, Nephila clavipes, during our walk through Kanapaha Botanical Gardens this morning. Do check the *extra...Fletcher wasn't impressed, but I was as I don't usually see these large arachnids at this time of the year. Growing up in Miami, we always called them 'Banana Spiders'. They are accomplished web-builders and use their golden silk to wrap up their prey, immobilizing it and saving it alive for a later meal. They aren't normally aggressive toward humans but will defend themselves if touched. Their venom has a low toxicity and is fairly harmless to humans. The male is tiny compared to the female and I didn't see one around her this morning. Typically males of this species aren't preyed upon by females. Whew! Good news for him!