Golden Silk Spider and web

"Golden silk spider on web in Enchanted Forest Park"

 

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY – ENCHANTED FOREST PARK, FL

 

This is a photograph of a Golden Silk Spider on its web. The shot was taken at Enchanted Forest Park in North Miami, Florida with a Nikon D90 and a Nikkor 60mm lens with a polarizing filter.

 

Golden Silk Spider Trivia:

In Florida and other southeastern states, the golden silk spider, Nephila clavipes, a large orange and brown spider with the feathery tufts on its legs is well know to most native southerners. It is particularly despised by hikers and hunters, as during late summer and fall the large golden webs of this species make a sticky wrap for the unwary. However, as is typical with most spiders, there is little real danger from an encounter with the golden silk spider. This spider will bite only if held or pinched, and the bite itself will produce only localized pain with a slight redness, which quickly goes away. On the whole, the bite is much less severe than a bee string. Typically, the webs are made in open woods or edges of dense forest, usually attached to trees and low shrubs, although they may be found in the tops of trees or between the wires of utility lines. Prey consists of a wide variety of small to medium-sized flying insects, including flies, bees, wasps, and small moths and butterflies.

Most people call them Banana Spiders because of their yellow bodies. They weave very strong webs which look like gold thread in the sunshine. That’s why they are called Golden Silk Spiders. Their legs look long and hairy. The female is much bigger than the male. She is approximately 3 inches long, and the male is only 1/2 inch long. They make big webs, about 3 feet wide and live all over the southern US, and especially in Florida.

 

 

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    12 Thoughts to “Golden Silk Spider and web”

    1. Ray.Ackerman

      Impressive work! I don’t impress easy.

    2. DMan

      I’m very impressed with your photos.

    3. Sean

      Very cool photo. Looks like the face of the Predator.

    4. Alan S. Hochman

      Sean, it actual DOES! vg

    5. Wolf Michael Knauff

      The photo is good, but please note that spiders are not insects !!! They are arachnids !!!

      But really, the photo is good.

    6. Alan S. Hochman

      WMK, As usual, I stand corrected!

    7. PhotoGurl

      I’m very impressed by your shots!

    8. Sharon.Levinson

      Awesomw pix

    9. Elena

      thank you Alan!

    10. liz

      that is a really good photo but gross at the same time

    11. Alan S. Hochman

      Liz… I totally agree!

    12. I especially like his legs. He looks like he’d glow in the dark.

      Oh and the little girl in me squealed :
      Prettttttttttty….!
      :0)

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    Alan S Hochman Photography