Spider ?

[rad_112176]

I took a picture of this spider while out doing some scouting. He was at one of the check in stations in the area we hunt. I have not run into a spider this big in a in the woods. It was approx. 5" long and was a bit aggressive. Let me know what you think.

[wtnhunt]

Think someone posted pics of a similar spider not too long ago. maybe a banana spider? See some similar around here but dont think I have ever seen one quite that big.

[Tominator]

Rats.

Can't see those pics here at work.

[wtnhunt]

Definitely a banana spider, go here http://www.surviveoutdoors.com/refer...ana_spider.asp

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

See 'em all the time, but I've never seen one act aggressive. I just love stumbling into their webs in the dark.

[bigbuck145]

yeah looks like a banana spider they are everywhere down here i run into the webs every time i mow my yard

[Tominator]

That's actually an argiope "black and yellow garden spider."

Banana spiders are a little different.

[Squirrelhunter91]

I posted pics last summer of a spider like that.

It was determined that it was an Orb Weaver. Very cool spiders and they can be aggressive at times.

[Tominator]

I posted pics last summer of a spider like that.

It was determined that it was an Orb Weaver. Very cool spiders and they can be aggressive at times.

Any spider that spins a web like that is termed an orb weaver. There are tons of different kinds of orb weavers. I ran my face across one just the other day.

[wtnhunt]

Dont know Chris, this was the pic from the site I checked. Sure looks like the spider in the pic above, and the information said it gets to be fairly large.

[Tominator]

Dont know Chris, this was the pic from the site I checked. Sure looks like the spider in the pic above, and the information said it gets to be fairly large.

I don't know that your source is all the creditable William, lol. I think if you Google "black and yellow garden spider" you will see the above photo more than you will see banana spider. I don't have my Audubon field guide here at school, so I can't quickly look up the Latin name for the banana, and garden spider. My guess would be that they are both argiopes and closely related.

[Tominator]

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spider...iopes_USA.html

[wtnhunt]

I did google it, where I found the link I posted. Seeing that I am finding that most banana spiders yellow and golden silk look like the pic you posted, that pic may indeed not be correct.

According to what I am reading though the black and yellow garden spiders, the female is larger than the male and only gets to 1.5 inches long, far short of the 5 inch long mark

[Tominator]

According to what I am reading though the black and yellow garden spiders, the female is larger than the male and only gets to 1.5 inches long, far short of the 5 inch long mark

The females are much larger, but you are correct, they are far from 5". I suspect rad miscalculated his original estimation as to size.

It's funny how deer are "monsters" to the non-hunter eye, as are spiders "are huge" unless you actually put a ruler to them.

I don't know. What I do know is the original picture sure looks like Argiope aurantia to me.

[Tominator]

I looked up the scientific name of the banana spider. Nephila clavipes. Not an argiope I guess.

I found more than a few sources that call the garden argiope and the spider pictured above banana spider.

I guess that's why they have scientific names for all these critters.