banana spiders .?

Question

i have 2 banana spiders living under my porch.so i went to go investigate what they looked like and when i did i found a dark white strip of web through the middle of them

what is the white strip

Answer 1

Banana spider is an ambiguous name that means
different things to different people. From your
description the spiders you have must be in the
genus Argiope. These are often called writing
spiders because the white strips you mention may
look as though they form letters. The strip is
called a stabilimentum because it was once thought that it helped to support, stabilize, the web.
The function of the stabilimentum is still being
investigated and argued about, and it is possible
that it has more than one function. One obvious
function is that it helps conceal the spider's body.
Especially in the juvenile spiders it may be in the
form of a circle rather than a strip and the spider,
when disturbed, whips around to the other side of
the web so that the stabilimentum is between it
and whatever disturbed it.

Answer 2

Female Black and Yellow Argiope spider (Argiope aurantia), also known as a Yellow Garden Spider, Golden Orb Weaver, Yellow Argiope, Writing Spider, Golden Garden Spider, or Banana Spider.

These spiders can be found throughout the lower 48 United States and southern Canada. Despite their large size, these spiders are not considered dangerous.

Answer 3

Golden Silk Spiders Nephila clavipes --the harmless Banana Spiders. Their bite is milder than a bee sting. Do not confuse them with the aggressive brown banana spiders from South America who are VERY DANGEROUS

**Please refer to this site below to identify the spider you found!**

Answer 4

Banana spiders are native to South America and live in Banana plants so unless you live in SA and have Banana plants under your porch they are probably not Banana spiders. They also get to be HUGE 8" or more across

Answer 5

banana spiders are comon even in Ill. out in fields , tall grass they are black and yellow check the web pretty good size body and long legs

Answer 6

You better hope Phoneutria Negriventer hasn't set up shop under your crib. Arguably worse than having funnel webs around.