Fun Facts About the Banana Spider

Written by: Diana Cooper • Edited by: Niki Fears
Updated Oct 31, 2010

Learn about the North American banana spider, a large but gentle spider. Learn how they look, where they live, what they eat, and more so you can share these banana spider fun facts with others.

Description

Banana Spider (also known as the golden silk spider)

Female and Male Banana Spider with Dragonfly

click to enlarge

One fun fact about the banana spider is the striking difference between the female and male, known as sexual dimorphism (meaning they do not appear to be the same species). The female is considerably larger than the male. She is the largest non-tarantula spider in North America. Her body is elongated, about 1-3 inches in length, and her leg span can reach over 5 inches. The male banana spider, on the other hand, has a slender body, averaging about a 1/2 inch in length. The female is colorful with yellow spots, thus giving the name "banana spider" and the male is dark brown and rather inconspicuous.

Click on image to enlarge.

Banana Spider Web

The name "golden silk spider" came about because of the color of its silk. The yellow spider silk of sunlit webs shine brightly like gold and is beneficial by attracting bees. In the shade, the yellow blends in with the foliage in the background, acting as camouflage.

A banana spider's web has a roundish "orb" shaped center. It is among the strongest of any spider silk and is said to surpass the strength of Kevlar, a fiber used in bulletproof vests.

Habitat

Banana spiders can be found in Florida to the Carolinas and in other warm and humid regions. They prefer sunny areas and tend to build their webs across a walkway or trail, spanning several feet. The spider web is normally at eye-level or higher, putting it in a perfect path for catching flying insects.

Diet

The diet of a banana spider consists of small to medium sized insects, including flies, mosquitoes, bees, stink bugs, grasshoppers, locusts, moths, dragonflies, and butterflies.

Behavior

Another fun fact is, despite being scary looking, the banana spider is non-aggressive. They are shy and will only bite if held or pinched. A banana spider does posses venom similar to the black widow spider but it is far less potent, making the bite quite harmless to humans. Normally, a small welt will appear and pass within 24 hours but a severe allergic reaction is possible in some individuals.

Banana spiders are good to have around to help control pesky insects like mosquitoes. However, if you prefer not having them around your home, you can tear down the spider web with a stick or broom and the banana spider will move on to another location further away.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Araneae

Suborder: Araneomorphae

Family: Nephilidae

Genus: Nephila

Photo Credit

Image by Diana (author)

Diana Cooper Feb 13, 2011 1:20 PM

Banana Spider

Hi Melanie,

The Brazilian wandering spider is also called a banana spider.

This spider (the golden silk spider) that I wrote about is also called a banana spider but it is different from the Brazilian wandering spider.

The golden silk spider lives in southeast parts of North America, is non-aggressive and basically harmless.

The Brazilian wandering spider lives in South and Central America, is aggressive and dangerous.

Hope this helps. Thanks for writing!

Diana

melanie Feb 12, 2011 4:10 PM

i am doing a report on the brazilian wandering spider and i am confused banana or brazilian

Diana Cooper Jan 25, 2011 11:23 PM

Both Are Called Banana Spiders

Hi Emma,

Both this spider (also known as the golden silk spider) and the Brazilian wandering spider are called banana spiders - but they are two different spiders. Maybe you can write a report on both :)

Diana

Emma Jan 25, 2011 10:09 PM

RE: Fun Facts About the Banana Spider

I am doing a report on the banana spider and I looked on a bunch of different websites and they all said banana spiders are the same as brazilian wandering spider.

Diana Cooper Jan 24, 2011 11:00 PM

Correction

The banana spider does posses venom but it is not potent and is quite harmless to humans, unless a severe allergic reaction occurs :)

Diana Cooper Jan 24, 2011 10:49 PM

The Banana Spider and the Brazilian Wandering Spider

Hi Emma,

The Brazilian wandering spider is a completely different spider. Unlike this spider that is non-aggressive and non-venomous, the Brazilian is aggressive and highly venomous (in fact, it is considered the world's most venomous spider). The Brazilian can be found in South and Central America and I am assuming it is sometimes referred to as a banana spider because they can be found hiding in banana plants. I don't think they actually go inside bananas :)

Thanks for writing!

Diana

Emma Jan 24, 2011 10:03 PM

Is it true that it is also known as the Brazilian Wandering spider??? Can it really be found in bananas???

Alisha Aug 4, 2010 4:11 PM

banana spiders

we have a banana spider at our house and its so cool watching it eat some grasshoppers or crickets at first we were scared but it turns out it helps us with insects in our backyard so now we like the banana spider!