What type of spider is this?

[marisa]

Anyone know? It sure is creepy looking. It was sitting under our porch light last night. Like the size of a toonie or so....pretty big for what we normally see.

<img src="http://members.rogers.com/mattl/spider.jpg">
<img src="http://members.rogers.com/mattl/spider2.jpg">

Marisa

[woody]

http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/inverts/argi-aur.html

[Kyle Barker]

Those things are sweet. When you get close they do super push ups on their webs. Man can they get that thing moving! Great pics.

[Tim and Julie B]

Very cool! I want it!! :D Toonie sized? Wow.

[marisa]

It was huge. really.

It made a temporary web right near our porchlight for the night and caught moths. It was gone in the morning.

Thanks for the ID guys. Never seen one around here before now

Marisa

[Kyle Barker]

They also make that zig-zag thing in the center or their web. Its one of those spiders that when someone says "it had to be |____________________| big!" adn they actually were. good size for an arachnid canuck...

[reptile boi]

Hey,

Thats a type of agrigope or agriop (i think thats how you spell it, i kinda forgot lol)






Thanks,
Ben

[TheRedDragon]

Neat looking spider! Great pics!

[OttawaChris]

Yep its a black and yellow argiope... they are native to Florida but are becoming quite common up here now for some reason.

They are pretty spiders for sure!

[J-Man]

Looks like something I used to have in my yard... I think they were called Banana Spiders? I dunno.

[marisa]

Well I am just glad this lady moved on after eating moths all night. A little to big for my liking.

Does anyone else notice that they can be afriad of house spiders/garden spiders but keeping tarantulas isn't the same? lol this spider scares the crap out of me but I can happily sit very close to all my T's.

Marisa

[reptile boi]

J-man,

Banana spiders are actually a species of spider that lives on banana's hunting for insects. I heard that they have a very potent venom and can kill a person.

[OttawaChris]

Banana spiders is another common name for the Brazilian Wandering spider... they are a relatively large true spider that is well known for its bad attitude and aggressive nature... and yes they pack a whollop when they bite. They have been known to kill adult humans (their venom is a neurotoxin which goes straight for the old respiratory system) They dont usually kill but will put you in a very bad way for a few days. I highly doubt you would find any of them in PA but who knows... stranger things have happened I am sure.

The argiopes are harmless though marisa so no worries ;)

[Emily-Fisher]

(their venom is a neurotoxin which goes straight for the old respiratory system) They dont usually kill but will put you in a very bad way for a few days.<br> Hmmm... sounds lovely!