Fun Facts on Banana Spiders

Banana spiders are found throughout the world in areas of Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, and North and South America. They have a lifespan of around 12 months; in that time they eat, mature, breed and die. Though most species will bite if provoked, for the most part these are nonaggressive spiders.

  1. Naming

    • Banana spiders are also commonly called golden orb weavers, writing spiders and giant wood spiders. The name used depends on the area of the world the spider is found in as well as the particular species of banana spider.

    Sex

    • Female and male banana spiders look very different, and so it is easy to tell which sex they are. The females grow larger than the males, ranging from 1 to 3 inches in body length with up to a 5-inch leg span, while the males grow to around 1/2 inch in body length. Females are more colorful than their male counterparts.

    Webs

    • While the size of their webs will vary between species, many banana spiders spin webs that are quite large. The Nephila edulis female's web can be up to 1 meter wide. Webs can also be incredibly strong. Their silk is said to be the strongest of any spider silk -- stronger than a Kevlar vest. The webs of the Nephila inaurata, though built to catch insects such as mosquitoes and flies, are strong enough to catch bats and birds.

    Species

    • Banana spiders fall under the genus Nephila. Twenty-seven species of spider that come under this genus.

    Yellow Silk

    • Though some species of Banana spiders are yellow or gold, that is not actually where they get their name. Instead, these spiders spin yellow silk, which attracts insects in the sunlight and blends in with the local vegetation in shady areas.

    As Food

    • In New Guinea, humans and other animals eat banana spiders. They are roasted over an open fire and sometimes served stuck on the end of kebab-type sticks.

    Egg Sacs

    • Species such as the Nephila pilipes dig a hole and hide their eggs inside of it to keep it away from predators. They will cover this hole with dirt, plants and other debris so it is less noticeable to predators.