The Ocala Mountain Bike Association
Our club symbol containing the Golden Orb Spider, and our trails like 'Spider Kingdom' are aptly named.  If you are an early morning rider, or if you are riding a remote or infrequently traveled trail, you will encounter these spiders.  Generally their large very sticky yellow webs are draped across the trail at a height that will align the spider with the rider's face.  Fortunately these very large spiders, with the leg span approaching the size of a human hand, do not sting.  They are, however, incredibly creepy if you are inclined toward arachnophobia. It can be a bit startling to be cruising along the trail and suddenly be confronted with a giant spider in your face.  OMBA wants you to be aware, and to take care.  
 Golden Orb Spider
 (Nephala clavipes) 

Of all the spiders in Florida, the female Golden Orb Spider has the longest leg span and weaves the most conspicuous webs. A full grown female is over 100 times the size of a full grown male. A web is frequently home to several males, some of which may be eaten by the female if food becomes scarce.

The female invests massive amounts of nutrients in web building and may not have the nutritional potential to rebuild her web if it is destroyed. Before repairing her web she will eat the old one, receiving the nutrition necessary to rebuild.

 

The sticky glue on the silk threads of the web may be irritating to some people. In order to glide over the sticky silk of this web, the spider extrudes an oil out of its legs. The silk of the golden orb is extremely strong. A single strand would have to be a half mile long before it would break from its own weight. It withstands twice as much stretching as nylon.

Typical Orb Spider at Santos
Photo by Bill Klausmeyer

The golden orb spider or golden silk spider is one of the many spiders in the orb weaver family. The orb weaver makes webs sometimes reaching from 15-20 feet. The golden orb is the only spider known to make its webs strong enough to be used for various kinds of bags and fishnets. Although this spider does not sting, the females are known to eat their mates after sex.

 
Golden Orb Spider (Nephila clavipes)
Photo by Ross Singer