Large spider
Oct 5, 2016 11:22:00 #
This is the largest spider I have seen. Can anyone ID it? 3 to 4" long.
Oct 5, 2016 11:51:14 #
rdubreuil
Loc: Dummer, NH USA
Hi Diane,
I'm no expert but, a quick review and google search... I think it's a Golden Silk Orb Weaver... http://spiderzrule.com/commonspidersusa.htm, a short excerpt from the site below.
Golden Silk Orb Weaver - Nephila clavipes
The Golden Orb Weavers build large, semi-permanent orb webs. The strong silk has a golden sheen. These spiders remain in their webs day and night and gain some protection from bird attack by the presence of a 'barrier network' of threads on one or both sides of the orb web. Sometimes their strong webs manage to trap small birds or bats, and the spider will wrap them and feed upon them. Commoner prey items include flies, beetles, locusts, wood moths and cicadas. Golden Silk Orb Weavers are large spiders (body 2-4 cm) with silvery-grey to plum coloured bodies and brown-black, often yellow banded legs. The males are tiny (5 mm) and red-brown to brown in colour. This spider belongs to the Tetragnathidae (longjawed orbweavers) family.
Nephila clavipes is the only species in the Nephila genus that exists in the USA.
I'm no expert but, a quick review and google search... I think it's a Golden Silk Orb Weaver... http://spiderzrule.com/commonspidersusa.htm, a short excerpt from the site below.
Golden Silk Orb Weaver - Nephila clavipes
The Golden Orb Weavers build large, semi-permanent orb webs. The strong silk has a golden sheen. These spiders remain in their webs day and night and gain some protection from bird attack by the presence of a 'barrier network' of threads on one or both sides of the orb web. Sometimes their strong webs manage to trap small birds or bats, and the spider will wrap them and feed upon them. Commoner prey items include flies, beetles, locusts, wood moths and cicadas. Golden Silk Orb Weavers are large spiders (body 2-4 cm) with silvery-grey to plum coloured bodies and brown-black, often yellow banded legs. The males are tiny (5 mm) and red-brown to brown in colour. This spider belongs to the Tetragnathidae (longjawed orbweavers) family.
Nephila clavipes is the only species in the Nephila genus that exists in the USA.
Oct 5, 2016 12:23:09 #
DianeL wrote:
This is the largest spider I have seen. Can anyone ID it? 3 to 4" long.
Don't know, but it looks like a toasted marshmallow with legs to me! ha! Good shot!
Oct 5, 2016 12:47:35 #
Oct 6, 2016 11:25:25 #
rdubreuil - Thanks for the info. The web was huge stretched between three trees.
Oct 6, 2016 11:26:18 #
Oct 6, 2016 11:29:37 #
Oct 6, 2016 11:31:07 #
angler wrote:
A very good capture Diane
Thanks for viewing and your nice comment.
Oct 6, 2016 14:15:55 #
Oct 7, 2016 00:14:02 #
Oct 7, 2016 04:21:34 #
DianeL wrote:
This is the largest spider I have seen. Can anyone ID it? 3 to 4" long.
When you walk through the bush at night & your face contacts this guy, it's about the closest thing to TERROR, one ever feels. I've seen similar here in Aus. There is a Golden Orb here.
Maybe beautiful & harmless but it sure makes ones hair stand on end.
You tend to create dance steps never before thought of.
Oct 7, 2016 05:09:42 #
Nov 2, 2016 11:23:24 #
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