OCTOBER 10, 2013
THE GLOBE, CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.
5B
Banana spiders: They’re friends, not foes JOHN DELUCA Wildlife Biologist
You may find yourself a little frightened this time of year as banana spiders appear in our yards and forests. You have likely seen these yelloworange arachnids in your yard, or you may have run face-first into their giant webs as you walk in the woods. The banana spiders are also known as golden silk spiders, and their scientific name is Nephila clavipes. They would just as well be named Halloween spiders, as they’re aptly dressed for the season. The abdomen, or rear half of the body, of this species is orange as a pumpkin and speckled with yellow dots that shimmer like the candles of a jack-o’-lantern. The cephalothorax, or front half of the body, resembles a skull. It’s silvery white and inlaid with an intricate black pattern, and their legs are banded like candy corn. These weird and wild spiders might scare you at first, but take a closer look: I think you’ll find them an amazing sight to behold. The massive, gorgeous spider you’re seeing is a female. Males are dull brown and less than half the size of their mates. Females grow as large as three inches in length. They build massive webs of golden silk that span up to two yards in diameter. If you have woods near your house, then go for an evening walk with a flashlight. Shine a flashlight at head-height and above. Its beam will illuminate the golden web of the banana spider. To be clear, banana spiders are not deadly. As long as you don’t try to pick them up, then you will be safe from their mildly painful bite (it hurts a little less than a bee sting). Now that you know how to identify a banana
spider, feel free to poke your face to within a few inches of these spiders and safely admire their beautiful colors and patterns. Unless a banana spider web is blocking your access in or out of a door, then I recommend you leave it in place and enjoy nature’s very own Halloween decorations. Banana spiders provide valuable ecosystem services. Take a look at the different prey the female has caught in her web. You will find house flies, mosquitoes, wasps and other pests. Notice that she has brought the prey to the center of her web. Arachnologists think this is an adaptation to prevent other spiders from stealing food. What spiders do you need to fear? The only deadly species in eastern North Carolina is the black widow. Unlike banana spiders, black widows are frequently encountered in houses or other buildings. Adult females have a distinctive red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen and grow up to 1.5 inches in length. Males and juveniles are brownish with orange banding, and they are much smaller (a quarter-inch in length or less). All black widows have a bulbous sphere of an abdomen that is much larger than the cephalothorax. They typically live in dark places and can be found in undisturbed, cluttered areas indoors or outdoors. But remember, you have nothing to fear from most spiders. Nearly all arachnids are useful at eating pests around your home and garden. Happy Halloween, and enjoy the banana spiders. For more information about wildlife aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, e-mail John DeLuca at john.j.deluca@usmc.mil or call 4517226.
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