Can anyone tell me what type of garden spider is this?

Can anyone tell me what type of garden spider is this?


It looks like a banana spider to me -

Thank you!

Golden Silk (Banana) spiders are the largest non tarantula spiders in North America. Here in Florida, I have many with bodies the size of my little finger, and leg spans of over 5 inches. They are gentle and tremendously beneficial because of all the insect pests that they eat. They often share their webs with male yellow silk spiders.
The golden silk spider is banana yellow and so are their webs; hence the name, Banana Spider. Yellow Silk Spiders are "Orb web" weavers, not wanderers. Don't confuse them with the aggressive and dangerous brown Brazilian Wandering Spiders (Phoneutria fera et al) <http://www.amonline.net.au/spiders/resources/general.htm> who are also called banana spiders. These are imported into the US in banana bunches and have a neurotoxin venomous bite like a black widow.

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Lady banana spider with her mate. She is the big one; he is tiny.

Golden Silk (Banana) spiders are the largest non tarantula spiders in North America. Here in Florida, I have many with bodies the size of my little finger, and leg spans of over 5 inches. They are gentle and tremendously beneficial because of all the insect pests that they eat. They often share their webs with male yellow silk spiders.
The golden silk spider is banana yellow and so are their webs; hence the name, Banana Spider. Yellow Silk Spiders are "Orb web" weavers, not wanderers. Don't confuse them with the aggressive and dangerous brown Brazilian Wandering Spiders (Phoneutria fera et al) <http://www.amonline.net.au/spiders/resources/general.htm> who are also called banana spiders. These are imported into the US in banana bunches and have a neurotoxin venomous bite like a black widow.

11087
Lady banana spider with her mate. She is the big one; he is tiny.



Remind me to never go to Florida to visit you. YIKES!

JK - OK... but I'm not in FL... That was the caption for the pic. And since the B spider doesn't bother you unless you whack it, I won't worry when I visit relatives there. <G>