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