Golden Silk Orb Weavers: Impressive Spiders

This entry is courtesy of Oatland Island Wildlife Center Staff, Audra Taylor

You may see lots of these critters while walking the trails. This is a Golden Silk Orb Weaver.

The size of this particular one, indicates that it is a female; this time of year you may see much smaller males next to them in their webs.

Don't worry- it is extremely unlikely that one will bite (unless you grab it!) and their bite, if it does occur, is generally less painful than a bee sting. A very cool spider that gets to be a very impressive size - if you see one, admire her beauty and give her space!