Golden Silk Orbweaver (Nephila clavipes) photographed at Bok Sanctuary in Lake Wales, Florida.

The Golden Silk Orbweaver (Nephila clavipes), also commonly known as a Banana Spider, build webs of a rather startling size, spanning several feet across. Beside the main web may be one or more barrier webs which protect her from predators. One or more small males may be found sitting in the female’s web, The web is a semipermanent structure which is repaired as necessary, not entirely destroyed and rebuilt daily, as is the case with some other orbweavers.

Like other spiders, this one will bite in self-defense, especially if you go out of your way to provoke it (in particular, by handling or picking it up). Spiders have venom which enables them to incapacitate their prey. However, the bite of most species is described as much less severe than a bee sting.