The Banana Spider: Everything You Need To Know! (Golden Silk Spider Enocunter!)

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks so much for watching this video, and I sincerely hope that you enjoyed! If you are on the hunt for more animal themed spooky season content, here are some recommendations: Chameleon Bones that Glow in the Dark (from All Canadian Reptile Girl) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKbNmIWImZJpmck&feature=share&si=ELPmzJkDCLju2KnD5oyZMQ Giant Black Widow Spider (from My Wild Backyard) kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3KUdGh8mN6IfKM Fear of Spiders (from Chris Egnoto) kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXewaYJpormBiKc&feature=share&si=ELPmzJkDCLju2KnD5oyZMQ As always, I appreciate your support of my educational mission and look forward to seeing you on our next adventure! -Ben Z.

[@mmmagma]

Your shark bait

[@cats.cashew]

SharkBait!!!!

[@JJ2cool4u]

SHARK Bait I WAS AT EPSTEIN How is possum doing, is he good

[@mmmagma]

Dang sharkbait you getting attention

[@ahmedkasraoui1542]

فمة ك

[@XENOSYATJA]

I wish that he mentioned that there are multiple spiders that are all nicknamed banana spiders. The Brazilian Wandering spider has very toxic venom, and can be found in banana trees, hence why they are also called banana spiders. The wandering spider is the banana spider that is generally referenced as the “most venomous spider” and not the golden orb weaver.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

This is very true, I'm actually saving that bit of info for when I film wandering spiders ;)

[@matt566]

i doubt this guy will handle wandering spiders like this considering theyre very venomous

[@matt566]

and aggressive****

[@dominikasten]

@@matt566 they are not aggressive. The only spider that is known to attack humans without provocation is atrax robustus, the sydney funnel web spider

[@DE_JOTT]

@@dominikasten No spider attacks humans. They might bite to defend themselves when feeling cornered and even then many will "dry-bite". Atrax robustus, much like phoneutria species, is known to hide in boots and other dark places where humans often squeeze them without knowing they were there. Just because we aren't aware of provocing an animal, doesn't mean we didn't do so even if we didn't mean to.

[@Justfollowthecrumbs]

Brilliant Ben, I hate mosquitoes too but it’s still difficult to persuade people just how much we owe to arachnids. Yeah for the spiders 🕸👍🏻

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks Heather, definitely hard work but an important message!

[@nightmare733]

I've always liked some certain spiders even took care and fed the black and yellow ones

[@gomezaddams6470]

They are so beautiful. I've actually sobbed when some of them have been killed around here by accident of course. We embrace our spiders no matter what kind. And they seem to know it especially with me they can be as flighty as flighty comes but the minute I put my hands out and tell them to calm down they do. I'm not sure why they believe me. But they do. I put one of my big brown house spiders down in a spot that she wasn't used to and one of the little ones from under the Wall came out and got her just a spec compared to her but she wasn't expecting it and the little girl was done, whatever species she is she threw her body out from under the crack of the wall. It about broke my heart because I had just found my big brown spider I didn't know we had any in this building. Actually I believe it was a he. I was really hoping that a female was found and that I'm going to have an overabundance of babies. LOL not what you hear from the typical person but I know spiders eat spiders I just made him be off guard. So I feel responsible. I always get a little bit chewed out for taking responsible for deaths of insects and animals that are really not my fault. Anyway I feel bad I had just met him that week. And now he's gone. Hopefully more will show up though we're in kind of a desert when it comes to proper spiders too much cement around.

[@c_saragusa44]

If you live in southern North America and have ever gone out in the woods during summer I don’t think youd like these spiders anymore. They are EVERYWHERE, you look down and one is on your leg, you look up and they’re in your way, you look at literally anywhere and they are there.

[@kathysingh1510]

I used to fear spiders and kill them. But, now I regret doing that. Spiders mean no harm to humans. They just want to survive and eats insects and mosquitos. We need to respect their space and not kill tgem

[@TheWildlifeBrothers]

I love golden silk spiders, and that was a nice sized one! I really like how you got right into freehandling her, there’s value in building up the hype sometimes but I appreciated your calm and nonchalant attitude about handling such a large spider. You immediately demonstrated that they’re not interested in biting, so everyone can take a breath and hopefully admire them a little bit more for their incredible silk and the services they provide. Great work Ben! - Harrison and Evan

[@GaameingTV]

makes me so uncomfy but i cant look away!

[@ragingz3383]

You were our favorite counselor! Thanks for taking us to fort Pulaski and the maritime forest ecology. It was absolutely awesome!!! - yed from the ospreys

[@Mick-dx2yi]

Ben, thanks for helping me with my bias towards spiders and helping me understand them better. I felt my fears of spiders really lift during this presentation. Thank You

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

I'm so glad to hear that this is helping you overcome your fears, thanks for watching!

[@Brushswagg24]

I live in Florida and I’m currently making a habitat for golden orb weavers! So excited after watching this

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Good luck with that, thanks for watching!

[@kennyhamilton2934]

Enjoy watching your videos , your knowledge and content are great. Our school really enjoyed your class times this week. Keep up the good work.

[@corym8358]

Great presentation! I saw on a vid on another channel that the bites from banana spiders are very painful even though they are not dangerous. So my question is how did you know that this spider would not bite you?

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thank you! I didn't know for sure that it wouldn't bite, but they almost never do without provocation.

[@jlondon1441]

Out here on Johns Island in SC, you can find these ladies everywhere. Way more common than the Garden Spiders that were all over in NC. I know of a couple porches that are just small walkways to the door and the rest is all these banana spiders (talking more than twenty, too many to get in and truly count without affecting webs.) The homes belong to old island folk who say the mosquitoes make the front porch untenable anyway, plus it keeps people away from the front windows. Kinda like using Spanish bayonets as shrubbery, or holly bushes up in NC. Great video, the only times I’ve ever had these crawling on me has been because I didn’t circle a stick in the air while walking through the woods. Although, it is fun to sweep up a large web and hang it by the tent as a bug catcher. Being careful to leave as much intact and keep the spider(s) on it.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Wow, definitely sounds like they've been successful integrated into the front porch architecture haha.

[@CaptainKea]

Hands down my favorite spider. Great video!!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks, they are beautiful!

[@lickitung200]

I am subscribed because of a field trip to tybee I am from Mwes on Feb 19-22

[@mainaccount4377]

I saw a lot of these earlier today at a park in florida and wasn't sure if they were aggressive or not. Glad to know they are docile and harmless. But they sure look intimidating!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Their bark is definitely worse than their bite!

[@bob-cat]

This is a great channel Ben! Glad to meet you!

[@nadiabrook7871]

You're right, Ben!! The fur on their legs DO look like leg warmers!! What a chilled out spider too!! XXXX 💖💚👍🕷

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Yeah they are super cool!

[@PeekAtWildlife]

On a summer's day at Huntington Beach state park in SC, I was surprised to see loads of these along one of the trails. They're pretty polite and usually don't build their webs over the trail path (but sometimes do, I'm sure the park rangers have a fun time with that) 😆but wow the golden silk of their web looks awesome in the sunlight! Very interesting spiders. Great video! 😀

[@Sardarkala75]

Excellent video and presentation! Which ecosystem or state are they in the most in America?

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thank you! They become increasingly common the further South you head from Coastal NC, with U.S populations seemingly most dense in the pan handle of Florida.

[@JessicaDunn-ll4gu]

You are an amazing speaker! My son loves your videos!

[@JonasBrotherFanClub]

Hey Ben, I love this video it’s great! Also it was so cool to meet you at the 4-H camp. Keep working hard and God bless you!

[@iFrostNight]

This video helped my fear a little bit. I used to be deeply afraid of every kind of spider. I’m slowly getting past that. The only ones in my Louisiana ecosystem that I’m still seriously bothered by is banana spiders. They’re fine if they’re a few feet away but I just know if one got caught in my hair I would lose my mind.

[@smetlogik]

Great info on a cool spider. I'm with you, anything that takes out mosquitoes is a friend of mine.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks, gotta love that free pest control!

[@allthingsbegin]

I literally ran into one of those at a rest stop in Anahauc TX. They were everywhere! It was a really cool rest stop. They had those exact kind ifbanana spiders, racoons, and armadillos just hanging out chilling at the rest stop! I was really fascinated with the banana spiders easy going movements and just chilling. ......not to be confused with Phoneutria Fera or Phoneutria Nigriventer. Those are NOT to be handled

[@viktordickinson7844]

i've had a huge banana spider living on my shed porch for a few weeks and i havent had to worry about mosquitos or yellowflies the entire time. Gonna be sad when she goes, she's putting in work!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Haha that's awesome, definitely nice to have free pest control!

[@BizarreWrld]

I see these guys all the time. I always move them away from the home because they are very beneficial. They're very calm and are easy to move.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Yeah they are so easy to work with!

[@garrettsharpe1464]

I love that golden silk orbweavers make such chaotic looking webs with a core normal web and a ball of haphazard silk lines around it. I heard the theory of the extra lines was to hang leaves and stuff in to make the space look occupied and keep birds from flying through the web, but not sure how true the theory is.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Yeah they are really unique! Hmm that does make logical sense, I wonder if it could be tested experimentally? Just release a flock of birds into two different tunnels, one with a clean spider web and one with a decorated spider web and see what happens haha

[@LitFox_24]

I live in north ga and they are VERY VERY COMMON I usually find 3-8 every year at my house alone and they stay there for a while I also have seen spiders ballooning once and didn't know that it was a real thing I though I was imagining it because they where flying so fast

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Cool! Man I haven't seen spider ballooning behavior in the wild, that's so cool!

[@stevencartlidge6574]

Cool video Ben. But what is with the "shark bait" thing? I have seen all your videos. Did I miss something? Happy hunting and keep safe.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Haha shark bait is my camp name here at the environmental education center that I work at! And thank you :)

[@seannedegraff3175]

Thank you for helping understand she is not going to hurt me I think that spider is very pretty and I can appreciate her eating mosquitoes with a nice video

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Amazing, thanks for watching!

[@RadeonVector]

Great video! As usual! 🕷

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks Raedon!

[@joshsinclair7548]

This was awesome!!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks a bunch Josh!

[@jamiebaldwin1043]

Here in alabama my lower lands have been over taken by huge brownish spiders in the beginning of fall..are these found in alabama?

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

I believe that they are!

[@DanAroYouTube]

Beautiful & peaceful spider.

[@paytnandanaya3456]

I had a pet male banana spider and then let him go but his name was Jerrold

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

What a great spider name!

[@AlexPribik]

Thank you so much for your videos. I learn so much from you! I hope you stay safe and continue to make awesome content 🙂

[@extofer]

very much appreciate your content!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks Christopher!

[@Pax_Mayn3]

There is one double that size that's been above my house for a few months. He just sits up in the web, as long as he doesn't decide to come in the house, he's safe.

[@rickynorris1694]

OMG that spider is huge! Amazing find for you.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks Ricky!

[@MexicoAdventurer]

We have a larger spider in the Appalachian mountains we call a "Zigzag" spider, also an orb spider. called so because of the zigzag web and zigzag yellow and black pattern on their back. We find them near water more because of the huge number of mosquitoes. Eleven years ago I was bitten on the leg by a huge female wolf spider that was 6.5 inches from toe to toe. I measured it after I killed it. The body was 2.75 inches long, with a 2 inch girth and she had some serious fangs on her. She jumped 3 times to cover 20 feet in about 1 second. She landed on my shin, sinking her fangs in before I could brush her off. When she attempted to attack me again, I had to whack her. 6.5 inches, man. Twice as big as the tarantulas we have here in Mexico. (Edit: yes I got pictures) Ouch. These banana spiders are great to have around. I can notice a difference when I'm fishing where they live. Very few mosquitoes.

[@Crystals_and_Witchcraft]

why do you think it came so fast at you and immediately bit? and tried for second attempt? That is not behavior spiders usually have. Nearly Always defensive. btw I LOVE jumpy Spiders they are so cute n smart. (not jumping wolf)

[@captainireland1375]

Orb weavers terrify me the most out of all spiders but luckily we only get 2 slightly big orb weaver spiders in Ireland but their so interesting I love watching videos about spiders even though I wouldn't go near then in real life

[@MintyFresh4200]

We loved you, Who-Dey and Beaks!! If you see this tell them we said heyy! -Ace and Peter(The school trip from RB)

[@ap8riot931]

The Phoneutria of Brazil is also called a Banana Spider by some A.K.A. Brazilian Wandering Spider. You don't want to get bit by one of these. If you get a good squirt of venom it can kill you.

[@yukimasahiko]

I fought my fear of spiders, I now will pick them up and things. I use to have arcnidphobia like my older brother... But I been fighting so many different fears of mine. I can now get needles, I went to a dentist and got teeth worked on without fear. And decided to work on fear of spiders by using exposure therapy thanx to my therapist on what he taught me with my fear of needles. I did the same thing but with spiders. So my sister in law called me about a big spider in the bathroom. I apoligized to the spider and put him in two cups and re released him outside. My little niece wanted to follow me, I like to teach her about nature and the love of animals. But she saw him and went... "Um... Nope...Nope" And runs back inside. lol

[@risingson7773]

These spider are all over the place this time of year in South Florida. Sadly, for me, hanging from trees at my job. Totally freak out when I walk through their webs on accident. I know I look absolutely mad flailing around, screaming and cursing, but can't control it. They sit right in the middle of their web in an X and the web looks like they design lightening strikes around that X shape. They may be harmless but look terrifying. I was wondering what that lightning pattern is in the middle of their web? Is it reinforcement or extra sticky for bugs to get stuck to?

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

The leading theory behind the web pattern is that it reduces bird collisions with the web!

[@risingson7773]

@@TheWildReportOfficial Those "lighting strikes" definitely stand out. Awesome, thank you. Trying not to be so afraid of them and move them safely off the paths. Thanks against for the information.

[@octavia1178]

At the house I grew up at, has banana spiders in the front porch! And I asked my dad what they were, he told me they're banana spiders and I asked if they were poisonous. He said that they can be, but only if you harm them, you can hold them and such, just be careful.

[@claressalucas8922]

AHHHHHHHHH! Great video. Gonna go nightmare now.

[@KimmieAbbasServant]

I just noticed black spots on my bananas and when I went to pick them up to throw them away a itty bitty tiny black spider on a web was hanging off of one of them I'm scared to death I don't know if I got him out of here or not

[@xxUncleBuckxx]

Anyone who has lived in the south were these spiders live is or knows someone who has walked into one of these spiders webs and then immediately turned onto a shirtless ninja.

[@vandercudo]

You gained a new subscriber.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Awesome, welcome aboard!

[@vandercudo]

Am watching your old videos now. Can only say you deserve more subs and views!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

@@vandercudo I really appreciate that! If you feel so inclined, you can help more people discover my channel by sharing my content with your friends and/or family!

[@cats.cashew]

SharkBait🦈 I didn’t get a class with you sadly but I saw you during the camp fire you and whoday

[@IkesDaddelbox]

She's really beautiful. I have a lot of respect for spiders, even though I really don't want most of them near me. But there are a few exceptions that I don't mind in my house.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

That's a good perspective, as long as we are respecting the animals around us they will likely do the same!

[@BitwiseMobile]

Another "banana spider", that is actually commonly found IN bananas (unlike your exhibit here), is actually the Brazilian Wandering Spider, and it's venom _can_ be medically significant. They are aggressive and tend to envenomate often, and they have the capability to deliver a significant amount of venom. That makes them somewhat dangerous. Unlike the docile little guy you have here.

[@sergeantsonso3490]

underrated video

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thank you!

[@daweirdo5468]

Hi I'm paisleigh idk if u remember me but just wanted to say hi!

[@izzywitit6804]

I remember in Basic training I was grabbing vegetation and put it on my helmet the whole time I was doing land Nav there was a banana spider on my helmet I was giving this banana spider a taxi ride.

[@joelcrawford28]

Wow I got to say! A spider that size they would have to struggle to get a meal as small as a mosquito. I live in Central Australia and we have loads of these Golden Orbs they are amazing and those large golden Webb's really do catch heaps of bugs😊.

[@Glyxics447]

Hey sharkbait this is Owen those are cool spiders

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Hey Owen, thank you!

[@foobis9805]

Very cool video. Good to know its harmless, but I'm still not gonna pick any up haha

[@waterysponge5341]

Hi good job with the vid

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thank you!

[@waterysponge5341]

I’ve been to Tybee with you

[@randomjoker2275]

Orb weavers don't have the mouth parts to deliver a bite to humans, the banana spider People refer to which is very venomous is the Brazilian wandering spider, so called because it would be frequently found in imported banana crates not because of any colouring.

[@sammeme7452]

Thx!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

No problem!

[@madisonbullard5847]

Dude! I’m living in central Florida now and at work we see these guys all over the place. They’re so frequent in some areas we can see tons in a day. Thanks for the vid!

[@deancorso4750]

banana spider only live in latin america.

[@321gates]

@@deancorso4750 Wrong. We have them all over Florida and other parts of the southeastern US. Where do you think this video was filmed? It is obviously Florida.

[@reveillerussell914]

Golden orb weavers Louisiana & Mississippi

[@Jacobmelrose26]

I encountered one on my last hike actually! She ended up like 2 inches from my face. Definitely startled me at first, but it was a very cool find!

[@chocolatechipslime]

I came across one of these at the park in south Alabama, it was more yellow though.

[@ibanez33150]

We got lots in certain areas in miami.

[@luizito1212]

Jumping spiders would reck her they are the coolest and smartest arachnids also cute asf

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Yeah probably

[@martinalarcon3108]

A mosquito 😮for these spiders is like equivalent of a French fried 😮they gonna have to get alots of mosquitos , I used to feed them green crickets or white moth 😮as a kid , fun to watch 😮

[@Abos1357]

I thought you was talking bout that brazillian wandering spider

[@aburguesiafede3912]

In Brazil spider very danger name is armadeira🕷️🕸️🕷️🕸️🕷️🕸️🕷️🕸️

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Well yeah I'm pretty sure wandering spiders are the most venomous species in the world lol

[@leighstreet8298]

The "murderess"...!

[@willy565]

I love Spiders. People need to realize how important they are. If you want free Mosquito and Roach control, leave the Spiders alone!

[@IMPOSING-NOOB2233]

very cool

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks Jimmy!

[@sublimeguy]

Thank you for this brother! Maybe less people will harm them

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

That's the hope for sure, feel free to give it a share and spread the word!

[@jadeforester2972]

Shark bait!!!!! Are those the spiders we talked about on the way to the Marsh???

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Yes!

[@edroytv]

Hi Ben this is Isabella from Tybee I looked up your account

[@GrimGothBoi]

Let me take a moment to state why people call and think “banana spiders” are deadly venomous and it’s as simple as that there are two species that are sometimes referred to as banana spider which would be (Phoneutria)this is due to the facts they have been found in banana shipments and (Trichonephila clavipes)because the shape and color just my general thinking

[@SixthMan30]

Hi Ben this is dimitri from when I came to visit

[@claywilliams5493]

Hi this is Mayes aka Squizerd

[@scottsanchez2288]

Subbed

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks Scott, welcome to the channel!

[@johnwomble7373]

Good vid Ben I am parker

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Oh hey Parker, welcome to the channel!

[@Karliah15243]

Cool and informative video. Rather unfortunate that she has to spend energy to rebuild her web you destroyed

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thank you! Yes, but they do destroy and rebuild their webs about once every 24hrs anyway, so she would likely have rebuilt overnight anyway.

[@Alice.59]

Maybe if people stopped calling it the "banana spider" people wouldn't be so afraid of it...

[@mikes7446]

Cool now I know they aren’t harmful

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Yep, just a bit spooky looking!

[@creapycritters819]

Ben, the skinks are out go get you some. I also saw my first mole kingsnake today bit didn't get him he went into prickler bushes. I got a skink video I'm working on. So did you like the video of my kid?

[@kayra4499]

I thought that the brazillian wandering spider was called the banana spider

[@roccolucioceraldi329]

this not banana spider ( Phoneutria nigriventer ) . . this is armless Nephila sp.

[@melissasalasblair5273]

I have a, irl, story w/ a banana spider 😳 Long ago, but I remember it like yesterday lol 🕸️🕷️🌑🌕

[@Gulpgulgulp]

Sup shark bait is Camden

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

What's up Camden, thanks for watching! What did you think?

[@Short22238]

It’s Skye shark bait

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Hey Skye, thanks for watching!

[@deancorso4750]

the venom of the golden silk spider is absolutely harmless for humans. banana spider is the brazilian wandering spider aka phoneutria fera.

[@Katsu14shorts]

We went camp with you!

[@johnnyr1co695]

No, not this one, meant to free handle the Brazilian wondering spider, also called Banana spider..

[@Goldfishgamingvr]

hi it is me squired aka mayes

[@TheHimsterYT]

NICE SHARK BAIT

[@ayliena8470]

hi shark bait I don't know if you remember me from our field trip Piedmont academy my name is Dylan you let me stay after class to hold all the other snakes like noodle and versatie by the way don't mind the profile picture I'm on my sisters computer also tell possum and evergreen I said hi.

[@noname1210hh]

when people refer to banana spiders as venomous they're referring to the south and central american wandering spiders

[@HiNRGboy]

I don't know how you can handle this spider and be calm and comfortable at the same time lol, but it's not the scariest spider...

[@controlledburst]

That's gotta be 800B not M

[@gideonsreptiles]

Tell you mom there is a banana spider at 4 am

[@maren_smith]

hey sharkbait from tybee!

[@martinalarcon3108]

My fav 😮spiders I love ❤️ spiders 😮they won’t bite u if don’t bother 😮them , I used to watch them build their web as a kid 😮and then I would crooked insects and throw them into their web 😮

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Yeah they are so cool and docile!