Giant golden orb weaver (adult female)
The giant golden orb weaver (Nephila pilipes) belongs to the subfamily Nephilinae in the family Araneidae. It is the largest web-building spider in Taiwan, where it is distributed in low-elevation forests. It is also found in much of East Asia and Southeast Asia. Its Chinese common name is the “human face spider.” This is because the markings on its dorsal carapace resemble a human face.
There is obvious sexual dimorphism among mature individuals. Females often exceed 5 cm in length, while males are usually only around 1 cm in length.
The typical coloring of the giant golden orb weaver is as shown in the photograph. On its dorsal carapace are gold hairs and on its abdomen are yellow stripes. Based on research, these conspicuous markings attract prey, providing more opportunities for these spiders to obtain food from their web. However, there are also individuals that are dark red or black. Although black individuals may lose some ability to attract prey, they reduce the risk of being detected by natural predators (such as birds and parasitic wasps), which is one type of survival strategy.
Giant golden orb weavers are large and their webs often exceed one meter in diameter, which makes them look very scary. However, they do not walk fast and do not actively attack humans. If you encounter then in the wild , you can observe them up close. As long as you do not touch them, there is no risk of being attacked.
