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Spiders Containing the Color Yellow

Spiders have eight legs, a united head and thorax, mouth parts and an abdomen with an attached silk spinning organ, called a spinneret. Spiders spin webs to seize prey such as flies, bees, wasps, mosquitoes, moths and small beetles. Most bites of spiders containing the color yellow are not dangerous; however, some warrant immediate medical attention. If bitten, save the spider by preserving it in alcohol for positive identification.

  1. Black and Yellow Argiope

    • More commonly referred to as black and yellow garden spiders, these arachnids prefer sunny areas among plants, flowers and shrubs. Although not dangerous to humans, this spider has a venomous bite to immobilize prey caught in its web. Both sexes are black and have a shiny, egg-shaped abdomen with yellow markings. They have black legs with yellow or red portions near the body, and short, silvery hairs cover the front segment of the body.

    Spiny Orb Weaver

    • Also called the crab spider, the easily distinguishable spiny orb weaver has six pointy projections or spines, protruding from the edges of the abdomen. This spider has a black body and legs with white spots on the abdomen. Its wide abdomen can be yellow, white or orange with red markings. These harmless spiders spin flat, circular webs in trees, shrubs and in corners of windows.

    Banana Spider

    • Female banana spiders have a light orange to tan circular body with a silver outer body wall. Orange and brown bands surround the lower segment of the legs. Other common names for the banana spider include golden silk spider, giant wood spider, calico spider, writing spider and the golden silk orb weaver, as this species spins a golden-colored web. A harmless banana spider bite will produce slight pain and redness in humans.

    Yellow Sac Spiders

    • The bright-yellow to bright-green yellow sac spider has a brownish tint to the eyes, mouth and very bottoms of the legs. These nocturnal spiders live in shrubs, trees and inside homes in the corners of walls and ceilings. If you are bitten by a yellow sac spider, the skin may die, but after the skin sloughs off, the bite will heal in a few weeks.

    Brown Widow Spider

    • Found in Florida, the brown widow spider has a light tan to black body with variable markings of white, yellow, brown or orange on the back of its abdomen. The bottom of the abdomen contains the characteristic widow spider hourglass marking in yellow orange to orange. Brown widow spider venom is stronger than black widow spider venom, but brown widows inject a lesser amount.

    Red Widow Spider

    • Found mainly in Florida, the female red widow spider has a reddish-colored body and a dark brownish-red to black abdomen. Distinctive red hourglass markings accent the bottom of the abdomen, and orange and yellow spots mark the top of the abdomen. The venom from a red widow spider bite is toxic to humans.

    St. Andrew's Cross Spider

    • Named for their distinctive webs, St. Andrew's cross spiders spin a bluish-white web with a zigzag design to form a cross through the middle of the web. The female of this species has a silver carapace with a silver, black, yellow and red banded abdomen with two vertical yellow stripes. The spider appears to have only four legs, as it arranges its legs in pairs.

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