What most Floridians know as the golden orb spider is actually the golden silk spider (Nephila clavipes) which is also sometimes called a banana spider. It's one of the state's orb-weaving spiders -- hence its more common moniker of golden orb spider. Orb weavers have lousy eyesight, so they find their prey based on the vibrations in the webs they create.
It's unusual to find golden orb spiders out in the open in your Florida yard, because they need the support of trees or tall shrubs for their webs. Floridians who range through the woods have to watch the path ahead to ensure they don't walk right into the spider's expansive and sticky web, which is often strung at about the height of an adult hiker's face.
While quite common throughout Florida, the golden orb spider can also be found elsewhere in the United States -- throughout the other Gulf states and as far north as North Carolina.
The golden orb spider squirts out a gel-like silk solution and uses it hind legs, body weight and gravity to turn the gel into a fine thread that it uses to create its finely meshed web. Unlike some spiders, the golden orb treats its web as permanent structure; it is repaired, not moved, if damaged.
The female golden orb spider is one of the largest spiders in North America. The female is quite a colorful and impressive specimen, while the male is a rather bland dark brown spider a fraction of the female's size. You can identify the male golden orb because he's often seen on the web near the female.
The golden orb spider's silk is known for its strength and durability, and scientists have long tried to create a synthetic version. The secret to the spider silk's strength is its makeup, say researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with up to 40 percent polymers and water that become insoluble in water. A similar silk, properly manufactured, could be used to make artificial tendons and ligaments, among other things.
