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Comments & ID Thoughts
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and only about 1/2 inch wide ?
- Submitted by:
- Submitted: Feb 10, 2019
- Photographed: Feb 10, 2019
- Spider: Unidentified
- Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States
- Spotted Outdoors: Man-made structure (building wall, fences, etc.)
- Found in web?: Yes
- Attributes:
This one is a spiny orb weaver.
Is it dangerous ? I was bitten by a Brown Recluse here years ago and don’t need that again. Is it dangerous if you step on one because it doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything,
Thank you for helping with IDs, Bradito! The scientific name is Gasteracantha cancriformis. My husband likes to say that name, he thinks it sounds smart. 😉 Bonnie, no it isn’t dangerous, though if you stepped on one barefoot it might be unpleasant for both you and the spider. Spiny orbweavers prey on flying insects mostly. They have venom for paralysing their prey. One might bite you if you were to somehow have it pressed against your bare skin ( don’t do that). They are sensitive to pressure and react to avoid being squished or trapped. The venom isn’t very potent… Read more »