I Am Surrounded by Banana Spiders!

I give up.  They are everywhere around my house.  I got clotheslined again this morning by a piece of web.  These things are huge.  This chiquita, fortunately, is out of my way. Her web extends from the hydrangea bush all the way to a crepe myrtle tree, probably about 8 feet in width.

Look closely in front of the clay pot. Chiquita is hanging out in her web.

It's easy to see the golden color of the web.

Check your Zipper!

Here is a picture of one of the banana spiders in my back yard with the 'zippers' in its web.  These are the strangest things I've ever seen!

What in the world are those white zipper things?

Along Came a Spider...

Sometimes I think I have entered the world of Little Miss Muffett when I wander around my yard. As anyone who lives around here can attest, the invasion of the banana spiders is in full force. Also known as golden silk weavers (due to the color of their webs), they are actually harmless, at least to people.

I went around outside and tried to get some good pictures of the ones who are inhabiting the trees, the carport, the front porch, etc.

Chiquita #1. Her web is in a tree that extends downward to the bridal wreath shrub right next to my deck stairs.

Is this something she's wrapped up or is it part of her?

Chiquita #2 and #3.

Look closely and you can barely see the golden threads of the web. This is in the carport.

Chiquita #2 near the garage door.


One thing I've learned--they seem to like to build their webs suspended between areas where I like to walk.  If you don't like where they have built a web, you can knock it down with a broom handle and they usually will build somewhere else.  That happened with the one on my front porch. She was TOOOOO close to my front door so I knocked down her web.   Now she's moved over about three feet.

The worst thing is walking into one of these webs.  They are unbelievably strong. Although I've never found a spider on me from walking into a web, there was one occasion where I ran back inside and took a shower because there was so much web in my hair. That was the only time I felt that way.


I found a very interesting web site that has lots of  information about banana spiders. Here is the link: http://www.shadygrovetrainingcenter.com/wildlife/bannana_spider_photo_gallery.htm/

Did you know that there are theories about banana spiders being predictors of hurricanes?  Check out this web site for more information! 

http://www.shadygrovetrainingcenter.com/wildlife/Golden%20Silk%20Spiders%20and%20Hurricane%20Warnings%20043007.pdf

I sort of hope that we don't have to prove that theory any time soon, though.

My daughter's got lots of spiders too.  Actually these are just a few of mine, but the pictures of my other Chiquitas just didn't turn out very well.