Golden orb-weaver (banana spider)

Warm, humid habitats including forest edges, gardens, woodland clearings, and shrubs across the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and parts of Central and South America.

It captures flying insects—especially flies, moths, bees, and wasps—in large golden, orb-shaped webs, then injects venom and consumes liquefied tissues.

Females build large, strong webs and remain centrally positioned, often adding zigzag silk decorations. Tiny males may occupy the female’s web and mate cautiously; females produce silken egg sacs.

Not medically significant to humans; bites are uncommon and typically cause only localized pain or irritation. It benefits ecosystems by controlling flying-insect populations and is generally nonaggressive.