Banana Spiders

Facts and Information about the Banana Spiders
Did you know the following facts about the arachnids commonly known as the Banana Spider? There is also a description as well as key features for spider identification which makes it easier to identify spiders.

Common Name and Latin Name
The Common Name (s) and Latin Name (s) are as follows:
Common Name (s): Banana Spiders, Golden Orb Weavers, Writing spiders or Giant Wood spiders
Latin Name: Nephila Clavipes

Banana Spider identification - what does it look like?
Banana Spiders vary between a reddish to greenish yellow colour with a white cephalothoraxes at the beginning of the abdomen. They also have striped legs specialized for weaving. Their colour contrasts from brown/black and green/yellow that helps protect them as a warning and repellent from predators whom their venom would not affect.

What do Banana Spiders eat? What is its prey?
What do they eat? They feed on:

• Flies

• Wasps
• Bees
• Small moths
• Butterflies

Are Banana Spiders poisonous?
All types (except Uloboridae) are poisonous. But is this spider dangerous? This spiders poison is not lethal to humans. The effect after a bite consists of local pain to the bite, redness and a blister that only normally lasts 24 hours. In some rare cases it may cause an allergic reaction that could result in respiratory trouble or fast acting involuntary muscle cramps.

How big is the Banana Spider?
The size of the Banana Spider varies between 1.5 to 2 inches in females, including leg span, while males will only reach around less than 1 inch in size.  

Where does the Banana Spider live and what is its habitat?
This spider can be found in warm regions throughout the world, including Australia, Asia, Africa and America.

What is the average life span of the Banana Spider?
This type of spider lives on average for about 12 months. They mature in the summer, then mate, lay their eggs and then die in the late summer to autumn

Classification of the Banana Spider:
Species of spiders are classified according to shared physical characteristics. Spider taxonomy is the science of finding, describing, classifying and naming organisms in a hierarchical system. This method of classification helps when a description of 40,000 spiders is required! The organization of living things have seven major categories: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. The classification of the Banana Spider is as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia
Kingdom relates to the highest taxonomic group into which organisms are grouped. It is one of five biological categories: Monera, Protoctista, Plantae, Fungi or Animalia.

Phylum: Arthropoda
Phyla are groups of classes. They are a series of animals or plants genetically connected with shared characteristics. It is the second biggest grouping in taxonomy. Arthropoda are jointed-foot invertebrates: arachnids, crustaceans, insects etc.

Class: Arachnida
A Class is a taxonomic group containing one or more orders. Arachnids consist of any of the eight-legged creatures, including spiders and scorpions, of the class Arachnida.

Order: Araneae
A taxonomic order within the class Arachnida (spiders)

Family: Nephilidae
Another taxonomic category below an order and above a genus which helps in the classification process.

Genus: Nephila
Another taxonomic category below a family and above the level of species which helps in the classification process.

Species: Clavipes
Species is a taxonomic group whose members can interbreed.

Spider Exterminators - Pest Control 
Generally speaking people do not like spiders, especially Banana Spiders and most of all the do not want them in their homes. There are many forms of pest control and ways to exterminate spiders such as Banana Spiders. There are spider exterminators, services, spider zappers, spider repeller, spider catchers, and spider traps for the removal and extermination process. Advice is available on subjects such as pest controls, pest prevention, spider catchers, spider exterminators and how to kill spiders like Banana Spiders. Some people would like to eliminate spiders from their homes completely. This can be very difficult as an open window on a summer’s day will allow spiders in. Even opening your front door when entering and leaving will allow pesky spiders in. It is very easy to get rid of Banana Spiders by catching them yourself. It’s best not to kill spiders as they are very important in controlling the level of other insects that are pests.