Golden Orb Weaver Spider

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

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

What do the Golden Orb Weaver Spider eat? What is its prey?
What does it eat? They feed on:

• Flies

• Wasps
• Bees
• Small moths
• Butterflies

Is the Golden Orb Weaver Spider poisonous?
All types (except Uloboridae) are poisonous! But is this spider dangerous? This spiders poison is not lethal to humans, the affect 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 Golden Orb Weaver Spider?
The size of the Golden Orb Weaver 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.

What is the average life span of the Golden Orb Weaver Spider?
This type of spider lives on average for about 12 months.

Facts and Information about the Golden Orb Weaver Spider
Did you know the following facts about the arachnid commonly known as the Golden Orb Weaver Spider?

• Fact One - There yellow web shines gold in sun light

• Fact Two - There name is given to them not by there colour but to the colour of there web
• Fact Three - The yellow colour of the web can be used to the spiders advantage in two ways, in sun light it may attract bees and in the shad in will blend with the background foliage and act as camouflage.

Classification of the Golden Orb Weaver 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 Golden Orb Weaver Spider is as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia
(Kingdom relates to the highest taxonomic group into which organisms are grouped; one of five biological categories: Monera or Protoctista or Plantae or Fungi or Animalia) :

Phylum: Arthropoda
(Phyla are groups of classes. A series of animals or plants genetically connected with shared characteristics. 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. Arachnid  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 Golden Orb Weaver Spiders and most of all, do not want them in their homes! There are many forms of pest control and ways to exterminate spiders such as Golden Orb Weaver Spiders. There are spider exterminators, services, spider zappers, spider traps, spider repeller, spider catchers, 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 Golden Orb Weaver Spiders. Some people would like to eliminate spiders from there homes completely, this can be very difficult as an open window on a summers 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 Golden Orb Weaver Spiders by catching them yourself. Its best not to kill spiders as they are very important in controlling the level of other insects that are pests.