I just realized I missed a very important date in history. On August 22, 2010, Wild Facts celebrated its 1 year anniversary. I can’t believe it has been over a year already. We have covered off quite a few animal species so far and I am just as excited as I was back then to continue on with the amazing feats of nature. With that said, we are going to look at the Golden Orb Weaver today which is truly an incredible spider. I want to thank Kanjiruminamoto for the excellent suggestion. This particular spider is also known as a Giant Wood Spider or Banana Spider.
Their name, Golden Orb Weaver, does not come from the colour of the spider but instead the colour of their web. That’s right spider fans, the Golden Orb Weaver will actually spin a gold web. Now before you run out and try to collect these gold webs to send into “Dollars 4 Gold” you need to know that they aren’t real gold. Actually, I think I would like to try this experiment to see if they will send you a cheque for your gold web. For the record, does anyone else see the flaw in packing up your gold into an envelope, sending it to a company that “promises” to send you back a cheque worth top dollar?
Although the gold colour of these webs are impressive I find the size far more interesting. Believe it or not the Golden Orb Weaver is capable of making a spider web with the circular center section being more than 1 m (3′) across and can have supporting threads ranging much further. Some reports identified the webs being 6 m (18′) high by 2 m (6′) wide. Basically, they make really big and really strong spider webs. In fact these silk webs are so incredibly strong that they have been known to catch small birds. Usually the spider won’t eat the birds but as you can see in the picture to the left, that isn’t always the case. By the way is anyone else creeped out by that picture? Again, the strength of these webs allows the spider to keep them for several years.
You have to figure that if the webs are that big than the spider must be pretty big as well. Typically the female version of the Golden Orb Weaver will be about 5 cm (2″) from toe to toe while the males are considerably smaller. Again, there have been reports from Australia that some of these spiders grow as large as your hand and in some cases may get even larger. That would be one big spider, my friends.
Golden Orb Weaver Fast Fact – The silk created from the Golden Orb Weaver is almost as strong as Kevlar. You know that stuff found in bullet-proof vests. Yeah, that strong! The poor bird didn’t stand a chance, heck even a gun would have been useless for the surprised bird.
Well that just about does it for me today. I apologize to all of the people out there afraid of spiders. I am sure the image of a spider eating a bird didn’t help with that phobia. Once you are finished your panic attack, I suggest watching the 2 minute video clip below. In the clip the Golden Orb Weaver is wrapping up a wasp in order to store it for later. As one of the comments on YouTube pointed out, “Think of it as Tupperware for spiders”.
Congrats. on your first anniversary! I’m glad you’re going to continue for a long time to bring interesting and unusual facts about the animal kingdom with such a humorous delivery!
Thanks so much for the encouragement, Agapelife!
Wow in the video it looks like he’s wrapping the wasp in saran wrap….this spider could be marketed as “a new saran wrap dispenser”.
Happy belated anniversary…a few more years and you will have reached your 1000 mark goal. Keep up the good work. I know you’re educatiting me on many different species of animals/insects etc.
hahaha… It definitely looked like saran wrap. The only difference is he/she didn’t fight with it as much as I do. I hate how saran wrap clings together!!!
Thanks for the encouragement and the nice words. It is always nice knowing there are a few people reading (even if it is my Mom and Dad 🙂 )
Yuck. It has it by the head, that’s horrible. I don’t like it when invertebrates eat mammals and birds. Across the internet I’ve seen praying mantids eating birds and mice, a guy feeding his centipede a mouse and filming it in disturbing detail and a venus flytrap close around a frog.
All horrible.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Comment1. Invertebrates should not be allowed to consume animals higher on the food chain. Even more important, plants should not be able to consume animals. It is definitely a bizarre but interesting world we live in.
Thanks for stopping by Wild Facts.
For all my readers out there. I highly suggest you stop by http://www.realmonstrosities.com/
I was very impressed with the content and writing style depicting all kinds of these bizarre animals we talk about. Check it out now! You can also click on the “Comment1” name and it will take you there.
@Nathan, aww shucks. Thanks for the kind words!
Wah! Poor Bird! T_T
and another Wah!
I just remember to read in your site Nathan! >__<
Wow! that Bird is 2''- 3'' in Size the Photo of the Spider you've got
Is Really Amazing!
and you're right I always see Golden Orb Weaver as the size of my Hand
hahah! They are Scary When you think you want to hOld Them! XD
It is crazy to think about a spider eating a bird! Something about that just creeps me out a little.
By the way, it is nice to see you back. I definitely appreciate you reading!!
Oh I forgot! Be Lated Happy Anniversary! 😀
I Like your Wild Facts About the Golden Orb Weaver! haha!
Thanks kanjiruminamoto!!
I work at a University in NW Florida and I have a beautiful female that lives right outside my office. Today she laid her egg sack!! I’m so excited I could burst! But I can’t find any information on what happens to the female after she lays the sack, the general timeframe for the sack to hatch or approximately how many “grandbabies” I can be expecting. By any chance do you know any of this information?