Argiope aurantia
Table of Contents
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: Animalia |
| Phylum: Arthropoda |
| Class: Arachnida |
| Order: Araneae |
| Family: Araneidae |
| Genus: Argiope |
| Species: Argiope aurantia |
Conservation Status
Identifying Features
The black-and-yellow argiope is 1/2 - 1" in length. Female spiders are bigger than the males.
Their abdomen is oval shaped and has black and yellow symetrical pattern to it. The legs are black with yellowish-brown towards the body. The cephalothorax, or fused head and thorax of spiders, is hairy and silver. Males are less yellow than females.
Habitat & Range
The black-and-yellow argiope lives in gardens, near flowers, and shrubs. It is found througout the North and Central America.
Behavior
This spider builds large, circular webs and feeds on insects that get caught in it. Spiders that spin circular webs are known as “orb weavers.” All orb weavers have two claws on each foot, but black-and-yellow argiope spiders have three claws to help them spin their webs.
Black-and-yellow argiope spiders produce venom to help paralyze their prey. The venom is harmless to people.
Featured image by James Dake