Golden Silk Spider (Nephila clavipes)

Identification: The largest non-tarantula spiders in North America only rivaled by large Argiopes. On the female note the large orange and yellow cylindrical abdomen, the long legs with black "hair brushes" adjacent to the joints. The male is a similar to the female but only about 1/8th the size. The male is commonly found in association with the female as can be found below.