Florida Spiders
I came across this spider in Orlando, but don’t worry I have only seen one in about 15 years that I have been going to Florida. If anybody knows what it is or if it’s dangerous please let me know.
The one below was about as big as my hand, so pretty big compared to most spiders you see around the house.
Florida Spiders
The one below I saw a few weeks ago while at a friends house.
Florida Spiders
I just took a pic. of one that looks almost like it. It’s up on the top of the outside window so I couldn’t get too close. The web is almost identical! The body looks like the spots are closer together. I took a photo of it.
Dianne
August 24, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Forgot to tell you that I live in Hudson, Fl. My husband is going outside to look up closer to see if it has the yellow spots on the side.
Dianne
August 24, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Yes, it’s the exact spider. I’m going to leave it alone cause I hope it eats enough mosquitoes and flies! I’ll be checking on the internet to see if I can find out what kind of spider it is. This one’s body is almost 1″ long and has the longest legs I’ve ever seen!
Dianne
August 24, 2007 at 5:06 pm
It’s a black and yellow argiope. It is not dangerous, the bite would be like a bee sting. Also called the “writing spider” because of the x’s it weaves in the web.
Dianne
August 24, 2007 at 5:17 pm
yes it is a black and yellow argiope spider, very common in florida but not dangerous. i just caught one today on my front porch. huge and intimidating but i still will not mess with it.
milany
August 4, 2008 at 12:15 am
We are currently staying in a villa in orlando, have just seen the same spider. But also a red and green spider its quite small but its colouring worried us.
has anybody got any information on it?
is it poisonous??
many thanks
sean
August 6, 2008 at 10:46 pm
my family and me just moved down to Fl from up north were it’s to cold for anything to big or dangeres to live so i was wondering if anyone could help me in what kinda spiders i should watch out for. i have already been biten by a small house spider nothing bad but i still worry about what else that could bite me. we live in Orlando so any information would be great.
thanks
Kayla
August 19, 2008 at 5:52 am
it’s a “writing spider” named because of the white part of the web that looks zig zagy & not dangerous. They are garden spiders & eat insects.
suzanne
August 30, 2008 at 8:40 pm
umm haha yea i just saw one out side on my wall. so i came to look it up. but yea im not as smart as the rest of u because i was to fascinated and chase then put it in a box lol then again i love spiders so if anyone finds out any thing more please tell me cause its in a box lol. my email is {armyrainbabe64@yahoo.com} thank you
stormey
September 15, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Wow was looking up a villa/home for my brother’s vacation and stumbled across your blog. Just sent him your picture…cool
Orlando Appraisal
December 1, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Spiders are very commonly seen during late summer. Probably the most common type is the orb weaving spiders, family Araenidae. As their name suggests, they produce vertical, flat, round webs with strands radiating out from the center, much like a bicycle tire. This is one of the biggest groups of spiders with species found in many sites, including around homes and in yards and gardens. Many residents have encountered these spiders throughout Minnesota during August and September this year.
Most orb weaving spiders are moderate in size and brownish, like a barn spider, although some species such as the marble spider are brightly colored (colorful species are often orange or yellow). The black and yellow argiope is large, with a one inch long body, and is brightly colored yellow and black. Like most spiders, orb weaving spiders possess eight small eyes, four in the center forming a box and a pair on the right and another on the left. Orb spiders have poor vision although they are able to detect slight differences in changes in light.
These spiders do not rely on vision to capture prey but use the vibrations they detect in their webs to alert them when they have captured something. Orb weaving spiders will wrap up their prey in silk then carry them away to the hub of their web or to a secure retreat to eat them at their convenience. Nocturnal orb weaving spiders may choose to take down and eat their web in the morning and then rebuild it the next evening. Orb weaving spiders that are active during the day similarly may reconstruct their nest in the morning.
Orb weaving spiders are harmless to people and should be left alone. It is tempting to say ignore them but you should take the opportunity to watch these fascinating creatures. And they are quite photogenic for anyone with a camera. At any rate, they will die on their own as the weather becomes colder.
vmosley
December 27, 2008 at 8:25 am
I saw one at the hotel i stayed at in Jacksonville, FL it was between 2 palm trees in a web and it was light yellow,black,and light green. I also took a picture of it with my camera.
Mr. Pheonix
February 4, 2009 at 3:23 am
its a banana spider and yeah their poisonus so i wouldent mess with them and they can get pretty nasty
Anonymous
June 16, 2009 at 6:46 am