What is banana spider?

Banana Spider Information

Banana spiders, more accurately called golden silk orb-weavers (genus Nephila), are known for their large size and impressive webs. Here's some key information:

• Appearance: These spiders are sexually dimorphic, meaning females are much larger than males. Females can have bodies up to 3 inches long, while males are often less than an inch. Their coloration includes yellows, reds, and browns.

• Webs: Golden silk orb-weaver webs are incredibly strong and distinctive, having a golden hue. They are among the largest spider webs, sometimes spanning several feet in diameter. The silk gets its yellow color from two unique quinone pigments.

• Habitat: They are found in warm regions around the world, including the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Their habitat often includes wooded areas where they can build their webs between trees and shrubs.

• Venom: While they are venomous, their venom is not considered medically significant to humans. Bites are rare and usually result in only localized pain, redness, and mild swelling.

• Diet: They primarily feed on insects that get caught in their webs, including flies, bees, butterflies, and even small birds on occasion.

• Behavior: Banana Spiders are generally not aggressive and will typically flee if disturbed.