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Trichonephila clavipes (formerly known as Nephila clavipes), commonly known as the golden silk orb-weaver, golden silk spider, golden orb weaver spider or colloquially banana spider (a name shared with several others), is an orb-weaving spider species which inhabits forests and wooded areas ranging from the southern US to Argentina. [3]
It is referred to by the common name Australian golden orb weaver. [4] It is found in Indonesia from Java eastwards, Papua New Guinea, Australia, northern New Zealand, and New Caledonia. [2] It has a large body size variability, females can reach a body length of up to 40 millimetres, males about 7 mm.
Golden Spider Silk Cape made from Madagascar golden orb-weaver spider silk, Victoria and Albert Museum, London [28] There have been several efforts in the past to produce garments from Nephila silk although none commercially viable. [29] These include two bed hangings that were shown at the 1900 Paris Exhibition. [30]
Golden silk orbweavers prefer to weave their webs in locations that are on a slight incline as opposed to a location that provides a more vertical set-up, which is common among orb-weaving spiders.
This spider is a common but often uncomfortable sight and has been dominating populations around the Palmetto State.
Trichonephila can be found living in Africa, Oceania, Asia, Central America, the West Indies, South America, and the US' southeastern region and gulf states. [4] [5] These spiders like to make webs where prey is fruitful, often in open wooded areas, between tree branches, shrubs, tall grasses, and around light fixtures.
Golden silk orbweavers prefer to weave their webs in locations that are on a slight incline as opposed to a location that provides a more vertical set-up, which is common among orb-weaving spiders.
Trichonephila spiders produce large asymmetric orb webs up to 1.5 m (5 ft) in diameter. [citation needed] Trichonephila species remain in their webs permanently, so have a higher predation risk. The golden silk orb-weaver is named for the yellow color of the spider silk used to construct these webs.