Golden Silk Orb Weaver
Trichonephila clavipes
Pest Stats
Color
Silvery front body, orange to tan abdomen with yellow spots, and brown and orange banded legs with feathery tufts
Size
Females are 24 to 40 mm long (about 1 to 1.5 inches). Males are tiny, about 6 mm
Shape
Long, cylindrical abdomen and long legs. Builds a large golden web, often 3 to 6 feet across
Region
Found throughout Florida, including Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast
What is a golden silk orb weaver?
The golden silk orb weaver, also called the banana spider, is one of the largest orb weaving spiders in the United States and lives throughout Florida. According to UF/IFAS entomologists, it is harmless to people and helps control mosquitoes, flies, and other flying insects around South Florida homes.
Quick facts about golden silk orb weavers in Florida
- Native to Florida and the warm Southeast, so it is not an invasive pest.
- Builds large, semipermanent webs and repairs damaged sections instead of rebuilding every night.
- Has one generation per year. Spiders grow all summer and reach full size in the fall.
- Most noticeable in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and Port St. Lucie from late summer through fall.
- Considered a beneficial spider because it eats flies, mosquitoes, and other flying insects.
Quick ID tip: Not sure what is on your porch? The black and yellow garden spider adds a thick zigzag band of silk to the center of its web. The golden silk orb weaver usually does not.
What do golden silk orb weavers look like?
The females are the ones you notice. They have a silvery front section, a long orange to tan abdomen with yellow spots, and banded legs with small brush-like tufts of hair. With her legs stretched out, a large female can cover most of your palm.
Males look completely different. They are slender, dark brown, and only about a quarter inch long. You will often find one or two sitting quietly in the female's web.
The easiest clue is the web itself. The silk has a real golden yellow tint that shines in the sun. Also, the spider waits near the top of the web, not the center, which gives it a lopsided look.
Where do golden silk orb weavers live?
Golden silk orb weavers build wherever flying insects travel. In nature, that means forest edges and trails. Around South Florida homes, it means the spaces you walk through every day.
- Between trees and shrubs along walkways and driveways
- Near porch lights and entryways, where lights draw in insects at night
- Around lanais and pool enclosures, where screen frames make strong anchor points
- Along eaves, soffits, and rooflines
- Between fences and landscaping in backyards with mature trees
What do golden silk orb weavers eat?
These spiders feed on small to medium flying insects. According to UF/IFAS, their prey includes flies, bees, wasps, small moths, butterflies, small beetles, and even dragonflies.
Their fine mesh webs also catch mosquitoes and gnats. That makes them helpful neighbors in South Florida, where year-round warmth and humidity keep insects active most of the year.
Are golden silk orb weavers dangerous?
- They bite only if held or pinched.
- According to UF/IFAS, a bite causes mild local pain and slight redness that fades quickly.
- The bite is much less severe than a bee sting.
- The main problem is the web itself, which can stretch across doors, walkways, and lanais.
Management of golden silk orb weavers
Spraying the spider you see does not solve much. If insects keep flying through that gap, another orb weaver can move right in, and you lose a natural predator that was eating mosquitoes for free.
At Wise House Pest Control, we focus on why the spiders are choosing your entryways in the first place:
- Inspection of entryways, lanais, eaves, and landscaping to find where webs keep returning
- Reducing the insect activity that draws spiders close to your home, including mosquito control
- Targeted perimeter treatment that is safe for families and pets
- Advice on lighting and landscaping changes that keep webs away from doors and walkways
For homes in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and Port St. Lucie that see big webs every fall, our maintenance plans keep insect pressure low all year.
Need Help Getting Rid of golden silk orb weavers?
Contact Wise House Pest Control at 1-800-283-1559 for more information and a free quote on spider control services.
5 ways to prevent big spider webs around your home
These simple habits make your home less attractive to large orb weavers. If webs keep showing up, a professional can help find the cause.
Dump standing water
Empty planters, saucers, buckets, and toys after rain. Less standing water means fewer mosquitoes and gnats for spiders to catch.
Keep gutters flowing
Clogged gutters hold water and breed insects right along your roofline, where spiders love to build.
Limit lights left on overnight
Turn off porch and patio lights when you do not need them. Every hour of light pulls more insects toward your doors.
Keep landscaping trimmed
Shrubs and branches touching the house act as bridges and anchor points. Keep at least a small gap between plants and walls.
Check the lanai and pool cage
Screen enclosures give strong support for webs. Check corners and frames weekly during late summer and fall.
5 ways to keep golden silk orb weavers off your porch
You do not need to remove every spider from your yard. The goal is to keep them away from the places you walk and sit. If big webs keep coming back, call Wise House for help.
Move the web, not the spider population
Use a broom or long stick to take down webs across doors and walkways. Then move the spider into a shrub or tree away from foot traffic.
Switch your outdoor lights
Lights near doors attract the insects these spiders eat. Yellow bug lights, warm LED bulbs, or motion sensor lights cut down that nighttime insect traffic.
Trim plants away from walkways
Cut back shrubs and branches so there is a clear gap along paths, doors, and screen enclosures. Fewer anchor points mean fewer webs.
Clear eaves and screen frames regularly
Brush away webs and egg sacs from eaves, soffits, and pool cages, especially in late fall. Each female lays egg sacs with several hundred eggs.
Schedule routine pest maintenance
Seasonal residential pest control keeps insect activity low around your home, which keeps spiders from settling in.
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