Banana Spider

[glamiswarrior]

When i was in the Marine Corps my unit did 2 deployments to Okinawa Japan. When we would go out in the jungle to train we would literally see hundreds of enormous webs, some at least 6 feet high and wide, the creator was none other than a huge yellow and black spider, 6-7 inches. Everyone would say that it was a banana spider but i have heard that there are other similar species. I have also heard that banana spiders are extremely venomous. Can someone please enlighten me, thanks.

 

[Pulk]

When i was in the Marine Corps my unit did 2 deployments to Okinawa Japan. When we would go out in the jungle to train we would literally see hundreds of enormous webs, some at least 6 feet high and wide, the creator was none other than a huge yellow and black spider, 6-7 inches. Everyone would say that it was a banana spider but i have heard that there are other similar species. I have also heard that banana spiders are extremely venomous. Can someone please enlighten me, thanks.

There are a few types of spiders people call banana spiders. The major two are Nephila sp. and Phoneutria sp.

Nephila sp. are golden silk orb weavers native to many countries, and there are some huge ones in SE Asia. If I it's 6-7 inches I think it's probably N. pilipes, but I could be wrong. Their venom isn't especially bad.

Phoneutria sp. are wandering spiders from Brazil. They have very, very, very, very bad venom.

 

[glamiswarrior]

thanks for the info. I can remember that no one wanted to take point man while on patrol especially at night because of the huge webs. If you walked into one you'd be covered from head to toe and possibly have a 7 inch spider on your face. Many other neat animals in those jungles as well, like giant hornets, habu vipers, and all types of lizards. I kinda miss that place.

 

[Pulk]

thanks for the info. I can remember that no one wanted to take point man while on patrol especially at night because of the huge webs. If you walked into one you'd be covered from head to toe and possibly have a 7 inch spider on your face.

ahhh, i would love that.