Golden Silk Spider

What it is

Trichonephila clavipes is the only species of the genus Trichonephila indigenous to continental North and South America. In the United States, it is commonly known as the "banana spider".

Where and when to find it

Habitat

Found in the southeastern United States, from North Carolina to Texas, preferring warm, humid forests and gardens.

How to find it

Look for their large, orb-shaped webs between trees, bushes, or even power lines. The silk often has a golden color.

Best time of day

Warm months, especially late summer and fall. Active during the day.

How it lives

What it eats

Many types of flying insects like flies, moths, and mosquitoes.

What eats it

Birds, wasps (especially spider wasps), and sometimes other spiders.

Worth knowing

• Female golden silk spiders are much larger and more colorful than the males.
• Their silk is one of the strongest natural fibers known.
• These spiders often decorate their webs with a zigzag pattern called a stabilimentum.
• They are also known as 'banana spiders' because of their yellow bodies.
• Their webs can be several feet wide!
• The golden color of their silk might help attract insects or protect the web from birds.

Why it matters

They help control flying insect populations. Their strong silk is studied for new materials.