Nephilia clavipes
A Costa Rican Golden Silk Spider adds to her web at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Mature females weave webs that have a yellowish color in sunlight. These spiders (like many smaller spiders) actually have enormous brains comparative to their body size, filling much of the body cavity and even spilling into the legs. As intimidating as they look, Golden Silk Spiders are essentially harmless to humans, biting only in self defense if they cannot run away and typically their bites produce less effect than most bee stings. This spider in particular was one of the largest I have seen. Thanks to Becky for joining me and for being my "visual sounding board".
200mm macro, f/8, 1/125s, ISO 3200, handheld
Nephilia clavipes
A Costa Rican Golden Silk Spider adds to her web at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Mature females weave webs that have a yellowish color in sunlight. These spiders (like many smaller spiders) actually have enormous brains comparative to their body size, filling much of the body cavity and even spilling into the legs. As intimidating as they look, Golden Silk Spiders are essentially harmless to humans, biting only in self defense if they cannot run away and typically their bites produce less effect than most bee stings. This spider in particular was one of the largest I have seen. Thanks to Becky for joining me and for being my "visual sounding board".
200mm macro, f/8, 1/125s, ISO 3200, handheld