Common name : Banana spiders
Scientific name : Nephila
Family : Nephilidae
Native to : Australia, Asia, Africa and America
Interesting fact : Its brightly coloured body helps it avoid predators.
There is a big difference in the size of the male and female spiders, with the females being 5.1 cm in length and the males not exceeding 2.5 cm. Their prey includes small birds and snakes. The web spun by this spider is the strongest amongst all and is golden in colour. It has been attempted throughout history to create garments made of the silk spun by this spider. However, none have been commercially viable. The female lays eggs in the ground, but first wraps them in the silk webbing.
