Spiny Back Spider

After researching, I have found no exact matches to my "little friends" here, but i have found a few good leads. In 1985 Thelacantha brevispina was found in Hilo, or at least that's what it was identified as at the time. Currently it's known as Gasteracantha mammosa. The other good lead is a spider called Gasteracantha cancriformis which has been in hawaii since the 1950's . Both Species are nicknamed "Spiny Back Spider."

I lean toward calling it Gasteracantha mammosa because Gasteracantha cancriformis tends to be more solitary, where as our spider builds webs off of other webs in quite elaborate structures which is more in line with the description of Gasteracantha mammosa which will do this in areas where prey is plentiful.

Now to tell you about the Spiny Back Spider,

It's length is anywhere between 1mm (when immature) and 6mm (full grown female) wide and it's only slightly wider than it is long. The females spin large webs in high places like between two trees , or on telephone poles (this is a problem for repairmen who want to work on that pole), males tend to spin webs lower and, if they can manage to attach it to the females, they will especially when their is plenty of food to go around. they decorate their webs with small tufts of silk to simulate certain flowers, and this attracts bugs like wasps which they will gladly consume for dinner. The immature spiders tend to build smaller versions of these webs much closer to the ground and further from the large group of adult spiders. Egg sacks are not found on the web but close by, and they are florescent green until the spiders hatch when it turns yellow, and each egg sack can hold up to 200 eggs.

This species is listed as a pest and an invasive species in the Hawaiian islands, both agriculturally and residentially. This spider is not known to come into residences, but it will built its web very close by. They wont bother you unless you bother them; unfortunately, when they build their webs on your front porch and you walk right through their web they will bite you, as is the case in the telephone poles and when they build their webs out in the fields that need to be picked. Their bite causes localized swelling on some people, but if you are sensitive to spider bites you should seek medical attention.

So finally getting rid of them:

the Organic way to get rid of them is to crush them and their egg sacks.
the not so organic way is to use Strike Roach Ender, Raid House and Garden, Johnson's No Roach, and Black Flag Ant and Roach spray.

Sources
Asian Spiny Back Spider
Urban Knowledge Master