Nephila pilipes (giant woods spider)

Family Tetragnathidae

The Nephila pilipes (giant woods spider) is the largest spider in Taiwan, and it is also one of the most common-seen species. There are golden hairs on the back. People in Taiwan call it the “human-face spider” because its head looks rather like that of a human’s, with black eyes, a mouth, and a nose. The female spider can grow up to 50 centimeters in length, whereas the male can only grow to 10 centimeters. This species’ body color ranges from red to dark red. The spider is a natural Enemy to many insects in nature, playing a key role in controlling the number of insect populations. Its webs also serve as construction materials for a variety of birds to build their nests. Next time when you spot a spider, don’t destroy the webs or even crush it.