One of Florida’s largest orb weaver spiders, the Golden Silk Spider builds an orb web measuring 2-3″ across with strong silk as thick as horse hair. The cephalothorax, or front body part, is gray with black spots while the abdomen, or back body part, is orange, yellow, or green with white spots. These spiders bite their prey first, injecting them with venom, before wrapping them in silk. Males grow to 1/8″ in length while the females can get up to 1″ long.

Latin Name: Nephila Clavipes

Habitat:Pine Flatwoods, Oak Hammock, Swamp

Diet: Insects