Huge Lowcountry “banana spiders” (Trichonephila clavipes) capture the attention of residents and visitors during the summer and early fall.
We literally run into their massive webs strung across trails and bike paths, strategically placed to capture an enormous number of mosquitos and other flying insects. This golden orb-weaver gets its name from the golden color of the silk used for its spiral-shaped web. These are considered the strongest webs in all spiderdom. Stronger than steel and yet extremely flexible, they are the crème de la crème of spider silk.
The not so itsy-bitsy banana spiders are native to the southeastern coast, where they play an important role as both predator and prey. They are one of many spiders that contribute mightily to local ecosystems as keystone predators responsible for controlling insect populations. As is the rule in nature, they are also a nutritious menu item for local birds, including our iconic bluebirds.
The oval shape and color of the female’s supersized body are vaguely reminiscent of an overripe banana, which may have led to the banana spider appellation. Her male counterpart is a dull color and barely one-fifth her size. One must look carefully to notice him lurking around the edges of the web, surviving on leftovers, and staying out of the way lest he becomes her next meal.
Like most spiders, banana spiders do not have teeth. They immobilize prey by wrapping it in silk and then using hollow fangs to inject venom that renders the prey an easily digested liquid—a spider version of the protein shake. Happily, the banana spider shows no aggression toward humans, and its venom is virtually harmless to us.
Their golden silk, rightly considered an engineering marvel, is the subject of important biomedical engineering studies. Scientists are especially enthusiastic about its potential use in repairing nerve damage, and in creating artificial tendons, ligaments, and skin for burn victims. Lessons learned from this spider silk may lead to solutions for perplexing medical problems.
Banana spiders may strike fear in the heart of their prey, but they should elicit only respect from us.