Banana Spiders

The banana spider is known for its strong, long-lasting webs. They are common in the United States, and they prefer to live in warmer regions. They can be found starting in North Carolina and moving west to Texas and California.

These brightly colored, yellow-to-orange-colored insects are full of unique characteristics that you will appreciate. It would help if you were not too close to them. Banana spiders can bite when provoked.

Continue reading to learn more about the dangers of a banana web spider bite.

The bite of a banana spider

Banana spiders can bite humans, but it’s not something they really enjoy doing. Scientists have found them to be shy spiders that avoid humans whenever they can. To make a spider bite you, you would have to threaten or scare it.

Although a bite from a banana Spider can be painful, it is not as dangerous as other spider bites like the brown recluse and black widow spiders. A banana spider bite is less painful than a bee sting and does not cause any additional symptoms.

How to treat the bite of a banana spider

A banana spider bite can cause redness, blistering, and pain around the bite site. A banana spider bite could cause an allergic reaction. These symptoms could include:

• Breathing problems
• Swelling
• Hives

These symptoms can be severe for you or someone you know.

You can also treat the bite of the banana spider at home using the steps below:

• For 10 minutes, apply a cloth-covered icepack to the bite. This will reduce swelling and stinging.
• You can keep the bite area clean with soap and warm water.
• To reduce the risk of infection, apply antibiotic creams to the affected area if it starts to blister.
• To relieve itching, apply a corticosteroid cream or antihistamine lotion. To reduce your symptoms, you can also use antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
• To soothe irritated skin, apply aloe vera gel. The gel can be taken directly from your aloe vera plants or purchased over the counter.

If the bite doesn’t look better after a few days, consult a doctor.

Information about banana spiders

Scientifically known as Nephilaclavipes, banana spiders are often found in banana shipments from South America.

The banana spider is also known by other names

The banana spider is also known by other names:

• Calico spider
• Giant wood spider
• Golden silk orb-weaver
• Golden silk spider
• Writing spider

The appearance of males and females is different

Scientists consider banana spiders sexually dimorphic. This means that the male and female banana spiders look completely different. These spiders would be hard to spot if they were placed side-by.

Here is a comparison of the key features.

Their web silk is .solid

The spider is the only genus Neophila species found in the United States and other parts of the Western Hemisphere.

Nephila, which means “fond of spinning,” is the Greek name. Banana spiders can weave webs as large as 6 feet. These webs consist of solid silk.

According to a research study published by the journal Nature GeneticsTrustedSource silk from banana, spiders are stronger than Kevlar (a fiber used in bulletproof vests). The webs created by female spiders are strong and visually stunning because they have different silk glands.

They eat flying insects

The banana spider web attracts and ensnares a variety of insects, including:

• Mozzies
• Bees
• Flies
• moths
• Wasps
• Small butterflies

They are found in open areas and forests.

Banana spiders are usually found in clearings and forests. The males typically appear around July and the females in late summer or early fall.

If they’re not careful, mountain bikers and trail runners could get many banana spiderwebs in late summer.

Spiders spin their webs where flying insects are moving, for example, around trees and shrubs. People often see them at eye level and higher.

The banana spider

Even if you don’t like spiders, there are many reasons to love the banana spider. They feed on small to medium-sized insects that can be found in summer-like wasps or mosquitoes.

Researchers have attempted to harness the super-strong silk of banana spiders in many ways. This fabric can be used to make bulletproof vests.

Researchers also looked into the possibility of using banana spider silk to repair damaged tissues.

Researchers are still trying to figure out how to harness the silk power of the banana spider for large-scale applications, but they’re still learning about the web and its fascinating ways.

Key Takeaways

Banana spiders can spin strong, large webs and are medium-large in size, depending on their gender.

They rarely bite humans unless threatened or held. Although their bite can cause skin irritation, doctors do not consider them dangerous as other biting spiders.

You may be able to stop and admire the spider’s web, even if you don’t see it. This allows the spider to continue to trap insects that might otherwise want to bite you.