Arachnid · GBIF taxon 10711575
Golden Orb-weaver
Trichonephila senegalensisAlso known as Banded-legged Golden Orb-web Spider, African Golden Orb Spider, Senegal Golden Orb Weaver
Banded-legged golden orb-weavers construct massive, golden-tinted webs that span over a meter in width across forest clearings and garden gaps. Females exhibit striking yellow, black, and red patterns with distinctly banded legs, dwarfing the tiny brown males that reside on the outer edges of their webs. The dense silk is remarkably strong, capable of capturing large flying insects and occasionally small reptiles or birds.
Web WeaverVenomousDimorphic
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Moths
- Flies
- Beetles
Predators
- Birds
- Lizards
- Spider Wasps
ThreatsHabitat clearance, pesticide overuse
HabitatsSavanna, open woodland, coastal bush, rural gardens
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAraneidae
- SpeciesTrichonephila senegalensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Venom is mild to humans; observe webs from a slight distance to avoid painful bites.
Responsible observation
- Web Awareness: Look for yellow silk strands at eye level when walking through open bushveld.
- Observation Distance: Watch prey wrapping behavior from a few steps back without touching the support lines.
Co-occurring Weaver 
Close Relative (c) Nora Jácome, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-byClose Relative
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