This is a female golden silk spider, Nephila clavipes, a species of orb weaving arachnids. While the males are diminutive, females can reach about two inches in length. We found this spider, along with several others, with their webs attached to some trees, off Highway 17. A few minutes earlier muy wife and I had accidentally walked through a web, and I found myself brushing one of these giant spiders off the front of my t-shirt. I'm not sure who was more upset, the spider or me!