What kind of spider is this?

January 5, 2009 7:36 PM

What kind of spider is this?

I live in hawaii and recently came across (and subsequently killed) this spider. Does anyone know what kind it is?

posted by Scientifik to science & nature (13 comments total)

Based on the fuzzy picture and the zig zag in the web, I believe this is what we call a Banana spider, but is more correctly called a Golden Silk Orb-Weaver. Look it up on google images and see if one of the varieties matched what you saw.
posted by CoralAmber at 7:50 PM on January 5

Looks like an Argiope to me. Harmless to humans, beautiful to look at. My wife often finds specimens like this one in her garden. Shrieking usually ensues.
posted by DWRoelands at 7:51 PM on January 5

What's That Bug.

BugGuide
posted by mrbarrett.com at 7:52 PM on January 5

More pictures and info on Golden Orb Weavers.
posted by rtha at 7:56 PM on January 5

St. Andrew's Cross Spider?
posted by lottie at 8:00 PM on January 5

A truly wonderful creature. Agriope spiders are called writing spiders, where I come from. Please don't kill any more of them.
posted by Coatlicue at 8:11 PM on January 5 [3 favorites]

Upon review, I'm going to cast my lot with the "Golden Orb Weaver" answers, I think. :)
posted by DWRoelands at 8:12 PM on January 5

It's probably an Argiope. If you enjoy these- check out Nephila.

They are very similar to Argiope in appearance and grow quite large. When I worked in El Yunque Puerto Rico I stumbled across one and flagged it so I could find it again. The orb was 30 in wide. I visited often and saw that she was able to catch tree frogs with it. Amazing.
posted by hellboundforcheddar at 8:30 PM on January 5

Thirding Argiopes, my favoritest-ever spiders.

Took one of the best three photos of my life when I was 10: Black and Yellow Garden Argiope (Argiope aurantia) in web in front of massive-out-of-focus zinnias, a real panoply of detail and fuzzbombs, color and contrast.
posted by IAmBroom at 8:47 PM on January 5

I think they are called St. Andrew's cross in Australia, and Argiope or golden orb in U.S.
posted by ginky at 8:54 PM on January 5

I am saddened and confused by your need to kill it.

Here are some resources to identify the few seriously poisonous spiders found in Hawaii. You can check these links out next time before 'subsequently' killing an innocent critter
* Department of Pediatrics, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine
* Venombyte.com
* a previous Ask-Me thread
* West Hawaii Today article with pics
posted by Kerasia at 9:14 PM on January 5 [1 favorite]

Well, it is easy for the folks who are cool about having spiders around to express surprise and wonder about the poor fellows who feel only a dead spider is a good spider. For some folks it is snakes, for others rats or mice, and many really, really hate spiders. The thought of even getting close enough to put them outside - using a glass and a magazine for example is not for everyone. My attitude has changed after handling them during presentations I gave. Handling as in looking at them very closely in their containers, that is. I still can not get myself to touch a tarantula.
posted by nostrada at 1:54 AM on January 6 [1 favorite]

I love spiders and find them fascinating, but they give my wife shaking terrors (no exaggeration). No amount of reason, logic, or explaining is going to change this emotional response. She kills them if they're in the house. Since there are probably upwards of a million spiders in every acre of grassy land, she's not putting a dent in a dent of the population when she stomps 20 house spiders a year.

Would I prefer she didn't? Yes.
Am I going to try to make her feel guilty about doing it? No.
posted by DWRoelands at 4:36 AM on January 6 [2 favorites]