The genus name Nephila is derived from Ancient Greek, meaning "fond of spinning", from the words νεῖν (nein) = to spin (related to nema … See more

Nephila spiders vary from reddish to greenish yellow in color with distinctive whiteness on the cephalothorax and the beginning of the abdomen. Like many species of the superfamily Araneoidea, most of them have striped legs specialized for weaving (where … See more

Golden silk orb-weavers are widespread in warmer regions throughout the world, with species in Australia, Asia, Africa (including Madagascar), … See more

Spiderlings
Nephila spiderlings leave the egg sac as a result of environmental cues, often warmer and wetter conditions in spring. They then live on a communal … See more

In 2018, twelve Nephila species were reclassified as Trichonephila, with another two (N. kuhlii and N. robusta) considered in 2020 to be junior synonyms of N. pilipes. Species … See more

Web spinning and structure
Nephila spiders produce large asymmetric orb webs up to 1.5 m (5 ft) in diameter. Nephila species remain in their webs permanently, so have a higher predation risk. The golden silk orb-weaver is named for the yellow color … See more

The venom of the golden silk orb-weaver is effective in action on prey, but has not been reported to be of any notable consequence for humans if accidentally bitten. In the literature, Nephila is one of several genera where the venom "must be considered as more … See more