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Photo#134182
Huge Spider - Araneus bicentenarius - female

Huge Spider - Araneus bicentenarius - Female
Near New Orleans, United States, Ascension Parish, Louisiana Parish, Louisiana, USA
July 10, 2007
Size: Larger than a quarter
I would like to know what this is and is it dangerous?

Images of this individual: tag all
Huge Spider - Araneus bicentenarius - female Huge Spider - Araneus bicentenarius - female

Moved
Moved from Spiders.

Compare it
with this species. If it is one of these beautiful giants, you had better watch your step, even if you are a Dragonfly!

Gayle

 
Anything Else??
Thanks so much for the info. I have tried to research this species further and I can not find any information on the dangers of this spider. Should I be worried? Do you have anymore information that you could give me? If so I would appreciate it.

Thanks Again!

 
Hi Sarah,
I apologize if I frightened you! I was picking at the Balabans for misidentifing a dragonfly as a damselfly. I meant that, not only would smaller creatures such as damselflies be at risk, but even larger creatures such as Dragonflies. I believe the insect at the bottom of the web is a dragonfly, not a damselfly.
To make amends, I direct you to this reference] here on BugGuide. Cursor down to "Remarks", and you will find excellent info on possible dangers from spiders, plus a number of links to other references for further details. I agree with the Balabans, this spider is not a danger to you.
Gayle

 
Thanks again
Thanks for clearing that up! I was thinking it was a real danger. I was also thinking that us southerners may call them a different name so I didn't comment on the damselfly lingo. That was a very large drafonfly too. It seems like over the past couple of years they have gotten much bigger. Well thanks for the reference it was a big help because just the other day my husband found a funnel web. So thanks!

 
Ah, Gayle -
Shame on you, frightening poor Sarah for nothing.

It is a female orb weaver
in the genus Araneus, and as long as you are not a damselfly, it is certainly not dangerous to you. We're certain the damselfly feels differently.

 
Thank you for the information
Thank you for the information as well. I do appreciate it!

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