Featured Post from University of Florida

Creepy, crawly, and totally cool: Florida’s “spooktacular” spiders aren’t so scary after all

Nov 14, 2025

4 min

As Halloween approaches, it’s the perfect time to spotlight some of Florida’s coolest and spookiest spiders —that aren’t so scary after all. Spiders are often misunderstood, but many are shy, harmless and downright fascinating.

Lisa Anne Taylor, assistant research scientist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), said that spiders “get a bad rap and aren’t so frightening.”

Here are 10 standout species that bring both cool, spooky vibes and ecological value to the Sunshine State. This Halloween, instead of fearing spiders, celebrate their mysterious style and ecological superpowers. They’re nature’s pest control, silk engineers and stealthy hunters. As Taylor puts it, “No one should be afraid of them.”

For even more spider fun, check out Taylor’s kid-friendly coloring book, “Coloring with Spiders: Our favorites from Florida.”

Black Widow

The black widow is perhaps the most iconic Halloween spider, the OG creepy crawly, instantly recognizable by the red hourglass on its jet-black abdomen. Despite its reputation, black widows are shy and rarely bite unless provoked — like when someone slips on a shoe that the spider was hiding in. “Nobody should be scared of them; they should just not hold them. They should keep a respectful distance,” said Taylor, who works for the Department of Entomology and Nematology. Florida is home to both native southern and northern black widows.

Brown Recluse

The brown recluse is feared but is actually very uncommon in Florida. Most “sightings” in Florida are misidentifications, and bites are rare. “They get blamed for a lot of things, but it’s rarely actually a brown recluse bite,” Taylor explained.

Red Widow

The red widow is a stunning native Florida spider with a black body with red and white splotches and bright red legs. Found only in Florida’s scrub habitats, this spider is rarely seen and even more rarely bites. Its vivid, spotted red-and-black patterns and elusive nature make it a mysterious and beautiful part of Florida’s spider diversity.

Brown Widow

The brown widow, an invasive species in Florida, is a close relative of the other widows but their venom seems to be less potent for humans. It has a dark-orange hourglass marking on its brown abdomen and is often identified by its spiky egg sacs. While it may look spooky, the brown widow is not aggressive and prefers to stay hidden in quiet corners. Like the black widow, it’s best to check shoes and outdoor gear before use for these stowaways.

Golden Silk Orb Weaver

The golden silk orb weaver, also known as the banana spider, adds dramatic flair to Florida’s landscapes with its large, golden webs that shimmer in the sunlight. Females can grow impressively large and display vibrant colors of gold, white and black. Their webs often span several feet, serving as natural Halloween decorations in gardens and forests.

Ogre-faced Spider

The ogre-faced spider is one of the more bizarre-looking and captivating spiders. With enormous eyes and a unique net-casting hunting style, it can see in near-total darkness and uses a silk net to snatch prey mid-air. During the day, it hangs motionless, resembling a twig. At night, it becomes a stealthy predator, making it a true Halloween terror to its prey.

Regal Jumping Spider

The regal jumping spider is a fan favorite, known for its iridescent green or pink jaws and bold, colorful patterns. These spiders are curious and often seem to watch humans with interest. “They’ve become internet famous,” said Taylor, noting that influencers even keep them as pets. They tend to be larger than other spiders, making them easy to hold, and they do well in a small terrarium.

Green Lynx Spider

The green lynx spider blends perfectly into Florida’s foliage with its bright green body and long, spiny legs. It’s a master of camouflage and a skilled hunter, often found on flowers and shrubs. Though it looks fierce, it poses no threat to humans and helps control garden pests. Taylor noted they’re common in gardens and flowerbeds and are great for natural pest control.

Twin-flagged Jumping Spider

The twin-flagged jumping spider is a tiny acrobat with oversized eyes and a curious nature. These spiders are known for their impressive leaps and use silk safety lines like bungee cords. Their bold movements and alien-like appearance make them a fun and fascinating species to watch. Though they may look intimidating, they’re completely safe for people – but horrifying to ants. “If you’re an ant, these are ferocious predators,” Taylor said. “They’re completely harmless to people, but they’re ant specialists.”

Spitting Spider

The spitting spider brings a comic-book twist to the mix. It spits sticky glue to trap prey, à la Spiderman, using a rapid-fire technique that’s highly effective against insects. These spiders are small and secretive, but their hunting method is one of the most unique in the arachnid world. For even more spider fun, check out Taylor’s kid-friendly coloring book, “Coloring with Spiders: Our favorites from Florida.”

Connect with:

Lisa Taylor

Assistant Research Scientist

Lisa Taylor researches biodiversity and the extravagant and brilliantly colored displays that arthropods use to communicate.

Animal BehaviorAnimal CognitionAnimal ColorationAnimal CommunicationSpider Biology

Find Experts

Apr 12, 2026

3 min

Study finds most cancer patients exposed to misinformation; UF researchers pilot 'information prescription'

Ninety-three percent of patients with a new cancer diagnosis were exposed to at least one type of misinformation about cancer treatments, a UF Health Cancer Center study has found. Most patients encountered the misinformation — defined as unproven or disproven cancer treatments and myths or misconceptions — even when they weren’t looking for it. The findings have major implications for cancer treatment decision-making. Specifically, doctors should assume the patient has seen or heard misinformation. “Clinicians should assume when their patients are coming to them for a treatment discussion that they have been exposed to different types of information about cancer treatment, whether or not they went online and looked it up themselves,” said senior author Carma Bylund, Ph.D., a professor and associate chair of education in the UF Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics. “One way or another, people are being exposed to a lot of misinformation.” Working with oncologists, Bylund and study first author Naomi Parker, Ph.D., an assistant scientist in the UF Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, are piloting an “information prescription” to steer patients to sources of evidence-based information like the American Cancer Society. The study paves the way for other similar strategies. Most notably, the study found the most common way patients were exposed to misinformation was second hand. “Your algorithms pick up on your diagnosis, your friends and family pick up on it, and then you’re on Facebook and you become exposed to this media,” Parker said. “You’re not necessarily seeking out if vitamin C may be a cure for cancer, but you start being fed that content.” And no, vitamin C does not cure cancer. Health misinformation can prevent people from getting treatment that has evidence behind it, negatively affect relationships between patients and physicians, and increase the risk of death, research has shown. People with cancer are particularly vulnerable to misinformation because of the anxiety and fear that comes with a serious diagnosis, not to mention the overwhelming amount of new information they have to suddenly absorb. While past research has studied misinformation by going directly to the source — for instance, studying what percentage of content on a platform like TikTok is nonsense — little research has looked at its prevalence or how it affects people. The team first developed a way to identify the percentage of cancer patients exposed to misinformation. UF researchers collaborated with Skyler Johnson, M.D., at Huntsman Cancer Institute, an internationally known researcher in the field. The survey questions were based on five categories of unproven or disproven cancer treatments — vitamins and minerals, herbs and supplements, special diets, mind-body interventions and miscellaneous treatments — and treatment misconceptions. The myths and misconceptions were adapted from National Cancer Institute materials and included statements like “Will eating sugar make my cancer worse?” The team surveyed 110 UF Health patients diagnosed with prostate, breast, colorectal or lung cancer within the past six months, a time when patients typically make initial treatment decisions. Most had heard of a potential cancer treatment beyond the standard of care, and most reported they had heard of at least one myth or misconception. The most common sources were close friends or family and websites, distant friends/associates or relatives, social media and news media. The findings mark a shift in misinformation research, with major implications for the doctor-patient relationship, said Bylund, a member of the Cancer Control and Population Sciences research program at the UF Health Cancer Center. “I still think media and the internet are the source and why misinformation can spread so rapidly, but it might come to a cancer patient interpersonally, from family or friends,” she said. Most patients rarely discussed the potential cancer treatments they had heard about with an oncologist, the study also found. Next, the researchers plan to survey a wider pool of patients, then study the outcomes of interventions designed to decrease misinformation exposure, like the information prescription.

Apr 9, 2026

2 min

New AI tool matches students with high-impact internships

Finding the right internship can be an important step for students, but it’s not always clear which opportunities will lead to the strongest growth. To help solve that problem, University of Florida researchers have developed an AI-powered tool that helps students identify internships most likely to accelerate their technical and professional development. Unlike traditional recommendation engines, Pro-CaRE not only predicts which opportunities will lead to stronger outcomes, it also explains why each suggestion is a good fit. In testing data collected from the students, Pro-CaRE’s predictions proved highly accurate, accounting for more than 72% of the differences in learning gains among participants. While the pilot is being tested in engineering, the tool could be adopted for other disciplines. “Internships are one of the most critical parts of an engineering education, but students often struggle to know which experiences will actually help them grow,” said Jinnie Shin, assistant professor of research and evaluation methodology in the UF College of Education. “What makes Pro-CaRE unique is that it doesn’t just offer a list of options. It provides personalized recommendations backed by data and it tells students clearly why an opportunity is a good match for them.” Pro-CaRE creates matches by analyzing each student’s coursework, major, background and self-reported interest, confidence and self-efficacy in engineering skills. It then compares that profile with a carefully chosen set of similar peers to refine suggestions. The result is more precise guidance that adapts to students at different stages of their degree programs. “Students shouldn’t have to guess or hope that an internship will be worthwhile,” Shin said. “With Pro-CaRE, they can approach opportunities knowing they’re backed by evidence, whether the role is onsite, hybrid or remote and whether it’s at a startup or a Fortune 500 company.” The system is designed to work across a wide range of companies and contexts, giving students flexibility while ensuring their choices align with their personal and professional goals. Each recommendation comes with a clear “why this?” explanation, so students can make confident decisions and discuss options more effectively with advisors. Pro-CaRE was developed by a cross-disciplinary UF team combining expertise in education and engineering. Alongside Shin, the project’s co-principal investigators include Kent Crippen in the College of Education and Bruce Carroll in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. The team is exploring external funding opportunities to expand the usage and test the efficacy on a larger scale. “Ultimately, our goal is to empower students to invest their time in experiences that will have the greatest impact,” Shin said. “Pro-CaRE bridges the gap between what students hope to gain and what internships can truly deliver.”

Apr 7, 2026

2 min

Using AI tools empowers and burdens users in online Q&A communities

Whether you’ve searched for cooking tips on Reddit, troubleshooted tech problems on community forums or asked questions on platforms like Quora, you’ve benefited from online help communities. These digital spaces rely on people across the world to contribute their knowledge for free, and have become an essential tool for solving problems and learning new skills. New research reveals that generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT are creating a double-edge effect on users in these communities, simultaneously making them more helpful while potentially overwhelming them to the point of decreasing their responses. “On the positive side, AI helps users learn to write more organized and readable answers, leading to a noticeable increase in the number of responses,” explained Liangfei Qiu, Ph.D., study coauthor and PricewaterhouseCoopers Professor at the University of Florida Warrington College of Business. “However, when users rely too heavily on AI, the mental effort required to process and refine AI outputs can actually reduce participation. In other words, AI both empowers and burdens contributors: it enables more engagement and better readability, but too much reliance can slow people down.” The study examined Stack Overflow, one of the world’s largest question-and-answer coding platforms for computer programmers, to investigate the impact of generative AI on both the quality and quantity of user contributions. Qiu and his coauthor Guohou Shan of Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business measured the impact of AI on users’ number of answers generated per day, answer length and readability. Specifically, they found that users who used AI tools to generate their responses contributed almost 17% more answers per day compared to those who didn’t use AI. The answers generated with AI were both shorter by about 23% and easier to read. However, when people relied too heavily on AI tools, their participation decreased. Qiu and Shan noted that the additional cognitive burden associated with heavier AI usage negatively affected the impact on a user’s answer quality. For online help communities grappling with AI policies, this research provides valuable insight into how these policies can be updated in the current AI environment. While some communities, like Stack Overflow, have banned AI tools, this research suggests that a more nuanced approach could be a better solution. Instead of banning AI entirely, the researchers suggest striking a balance between allowing AI usage while promoting responsible and moderated use. This approach, they argue, would enable users to benefit from efficiency and learning opportunities, while not compromising quality content and user cognition. “For platform leaders, the takeaway is clear: AI can boost participation if thoughtfully integrated, but its cognitive demands must be managed to sustain long-term user contributions,” Qiu said.