Golden Silk Orb-Weaver

The golden silk orb-weaver is an orb-weaving spider species that inhabits forests and wooded areas from the southern United States to Argentina, native to both continents. It is known for the golden color of its silk, the large size of its females, and its distinctive red-brown and yellow coloring, and it builds large, asymmetrical circular webs on trees and low shrubs to catch small and medium sized flying insects. The species produces and uses seven different types of silk and subdues prey by injecting venom rather than wrapping it in silk first. It is not aggressive toward humans and bites only in self defense, and its venom has low toxicity, posing little health concern to healthy adults.