What’s the deal with banana spiders in the South? What MS and GA residents should know
Although the heat of summer is still in full swing, fall is around the corner (believe it or not).
Fall means cooler weather and football, but it also means spooky season as well.
Black cats, bats, ghosts and spiders. Big, scary, hairy spiders.
If you haven’t guessed, we are getting in the spirit with spiders.
However, we aren’t focusing on just any spider. We are talking about banana spiders.
What do they look like?
Banana spiders or Golden Orb Spiders are huge brown and yellow spiders that are around 1.5 to 2 inches.
However, female Banana spiders can have a leg span of up to five inches. Yikes.
How did they get their name?
These spiders are called banana spiders because they often hitch rides on shipments of bananas.
Check your fruit, people.
Where can they be found?
They originate from North America, Australia, Asia, and Africa and can be found in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and more.
Their habitat is typically warm and humid. They like to live in bushes or areas with a lot of leaf cover.
Are they venomous?
According to AZ Animals, “Although their bite can be painful, banana spiders are not deadly and are generally not seen as a serious threat to people.”
Fun facts
Sure, banana spiders are giant and look quite vicious, but there are several other things to know about them:
They mostly eat insects, but they are large enough to eat mice, lizards and snakes.
The dragline silk of banana spiders can be stronger than Kevlar, which is used to make bulletproof vests.
Some of these spiders seem to be able to control how ultraviolet light reflects off their body stripes. This helps them attract prey
Females eat the males after mating.
Their species is the oldest surviving spider genus. Fossil remnants are 165 million years old.
Their silk can be used to make clothing or fishing nets.
Have you ever seen a banana spider in person? Comment below to let us know.
This story was originally published August 15, 2023 at 10:13 AM with the headline "What’s the deal with banana spiders in the South? What MS and GA residents should know."
