Subject: (Red) golden orb weaver?
Geographic location of the bug: Mexico, Riviera Maya
Date: 10/06/2017
Time: 05:19 PM EDT
I believe this is a female golden orb weaver, with the male sat close by.
Except she’s red?
I read this could be due to a fungus.
Any ideas?
How you want your letter signed: Nick mumby
Dear Nick,
We know this spider, Nephila clavipes, but the common names Golden Silk Spider or Banana Spider, and it is a different species from the Golden Orbweaver, Argiope aurantia. We know nothing of the red color being due to fungus. This BugGuide image also depicts an individual with reddish coloration. It might be just individual variation. We agree that your image also depicts the diminutive male sharing the web of his much larger mate.