Banana spiders may look intimidating with their large stature and showy color, but are they really as scary as they seem? People often wonder, “Are banana spiders poisonous?” The answer is yes! The bite from a banana spider is painful but certainly not deadly. Fortunately, these spiders prefer to set up shop outdoors rather than invading your home. A few other names for the banana spider are the giant wood spider, calico spider, golden silk orb-weaver, and writing spider. If you need an exterminator to get rid of the banana spiders in your home or business, click here to see pricing.
Do Banana Spiders bite?
A bite from a banana spider may be somewhat uncomfortable, but it’s not as harmful as bites from the Brown Recluse or Black Widow spider. It may take up to three hours for symptoms to appear. Even though the bite can hurt and swell, the paint should only last for about a day. Here are some of the symptoms you could expect from a banana spider bite:
- Hives
- Swelling
- Redness
- Blistering
- Heavy Sweating
- Drooling
- Stomach Cramps
- Fever
- Chills
We’ve already confirmed that banana spiders are in fact poisonous but there can be some confusion on the subject. Some species of banana spiders are extremely poisonous while others may have only a slightly painful bite. The Brazilian wandering banana spiders are among the most venomous spiders on the earth with a potentially fatal bite. However, this species is rarely found in the United States. The banana spider common in the southern states of the U.S only bites if held or pinched, otherwise remaining relatively shy. Its bite, while causing irritation, redness, and swelling, shouldn’t hurt more than a bee sting. Fatalities from a banana spider bite of this species are extremely rare.
What does a banana spider look like?
Found in the southeastern United States, banana spiders are very large and are typically brightly colored. White these arachnids are predominantly found throughout South America, they often find their way to North America by hiding among banana bunches that are shipped up north. Hence, they are nicknamed the “banana spider”.
Banana spiders may appear red or greenish-yellow but are particularly distinguished by their striped legs. Their bright markings serve as a warning to predators that they are venomous creatures. They can grow to about 2 inches in size, not including their leg span. Another identifying feature is random white spots on the abdomen. Female spiders are distinguished from males by their shiny silver reflection.
The Banana Spider Web
Banana spiders are best known for creating intricate and expansive webs used to catch their prey. Often spanning up to 6 feet in diameter, these webs are incredibly large and strong. Females weave their webs in forest and wooded areas, often along hiking trails. Incredibly, these spiders can adjust the color of their silk to match the area’s sunlight conditions. This makes the web very difficult to see by unsuspecting prey. While no one wants to encounter one of these spiders face to face, they are actually quite important predators in their environment since they consume a high volume of harmful insects.
How big can a Banana Spider get?
When it comes to the banana spider, the females are much larger than the males. Females can be 1-3 inches long, while males are only about.02 inches long. The genders also differ in color. Males are dark brown and blend in with their surroundings. Females have yellow spots on a light orange abdomen. The female spiders also have orange and brown bands on each leg, except for the shorter pair. If placed side by side, most people wouldn’t recognize the male and female banana spiders as even being of the same species.
What do Banana Spiders eat?
Lucky for you, banana spiders have several things on the menu that they seek after for sustenance and none of them are humans. Their sought-after prey includes insects such as flies, grasshoppers, bees, wasps, mosquitos, moths, or even other banana spiders.
Banana spiders definitely prefer warm climates. In many parts of the south, these spiders are encountered by people using hiking or biking trails.
How to get rid of Banana Spiders
Even though banana spiders try to avoid humans, most homeowners don’t feel comfortable having them too close to their homes or property. Preventing these spiders isn’t usually necessary unless they build their web in an area often encountered by humans. Here are some key actions you can take to prevent banana spiders from becoming a problem for you:
- Seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior to prevent spiders or insects from entering.
- Remove ground clutter, fallen tree branches, or tall grasses that could harbor spiders.
- Remove leaf or mulch piles from your yard that create hiding places for small insects. Spiders can’t survive without readily available prey.
Banana Spiders Conclusion
Further reading: see the guidance from the CDC.
Frequently Asked Questions
The banana spider common in the southern United States is venomous but not dangerous. It only bites if it is held or pinched, and the bite generally hurts about as much as a bee sting. Fatalities from this species are extremely rare.
Symptoms can take up to three hours to appear and usually fade within a day. Expect redness, swelling, and sometimes hives or blistering at the site. Anyone with a strong or spreading reaction should see a doctor.
They are large, up to about two inches in body length, brightly colored, and marked by striped legs and random white spots on the abdomen. Females are much bigger, with yellow spots on a light orange abdomen. Males are small and dark brown.
Females spin wide orb webs, sometimes six feet across, in wooded areas and along trails. Around a house they favor eaves, porch corners, and shrubs where flying insects gather. They can tint their silk to match the light, so the web is easy to walk into.
Seal gaps and cracks in the exterior, clear ground clutter, fallen branches, and tall grass, and move leaf or mulch piles away from the walls. Spiders leave when their prey does, so cutting insect activity is the step that matters most.