Golden Silk Orbweaver (Banana Spider)
Also known as writing spider. Trichonephila clavipes
Florida's largest orbweaver, spinning golden-silk webs across trails, porches and gardens.
In Florida, Golden Silk Orbweaver (Banana Spider) (Trichonephila clavipes) rates as a low concern. Rhino Pest Management is a licensed (#JB242881) and insured spider control company serving Florida's Treasure & Space Coast, rated 5.0★ by 16 Google reviewers. The estimate is always free — (772) 589-6842.
Photo: Tiago Lubiana (CC0) · Wikimedia Commons
Females are unmistakable: elongated body up to 40 mm with silver and yellow markings, bright orange-yellow joints on dark legs tufted with black hair. Males are tiny and brown. The golden silk web can exceed a meter across.
Edges of wooded areas, garden borders, between shrubs and any open space where flying insects are plentiful. Common throughout Florida from summer through fall.
- Large golden-yellow orb webs strung across walking paths, between trees or on porches
- A massive, boldly colored spider hanging head-down in the web center
- Small debris wrapped in silk stabilimenta incorporated into the web structure
Banana spiders are essentially harmless to humans. A bite would cause mild, localized irritation. They're highly beneficial, consuming large quantities of biting insects. Most complaints are about walking into the webs.
Is this urgent?
No. Golden Silk Orbweaver (Banana Spider) is a nuisance, not a threat to your health or your house. Most people fold it into a regular service visit rather than booking a special trip. If the numbers keep climbing after you've dealt with the moisture and food sources, that's when it's worth a call.
Where webs are a problem in high-traffic areas, Rhino can de-web and apply a perimeter treatment that deters web-building near entrances.
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Scientific source
For the biology behind this page, the University of Florida's IFAS Extension publishes a detailed Featured Creatures profile of this species — free to read, and written by entomologists in this state:
Golden Silk Spider, Trichonephila clavipes (Linnaeus) — UF/IFAS Extension