Argiope aurantia Lucas, 1833
yellow garden spider
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Males
Females
How to Identify Argiope aurantia Lucas, 1833
Family: ARANEIDAE Simon, 1895
Genus: Argiope Audouin, 1826
Species: Argiope aurantia Lucas, 1833
Origin of Name: The specific epithet aurantia is derived from the Latin aureus for "golden".
Official Common Name: yellow garden spider
Males
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Females
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Distinguishing Characteristics
Individuals of this species make large webs with a conspicuous, zig-zag stabilamentum (a dense band of silk). Male: Carapace brownish, covered with white setae (hairs). Sternum black with white median longitudinal band. Legs brownish. Abdomen black on dorsal surface with indistinct paired yellowish white longitudinal bands. Venter is black with paired indistinct longitudinal bands. Female: Carapace yellowish-white with brown markings and with silvery setae. Sternum as in male. Abdomen with paired lobes at anterior end, black with conspicuous paired yellow spots, venter black with white margins and 3-4 pairs of white spots.
Range
Canada to Costa Rica.
Collection Map of Museum Specimens
in The Nearctic Spider Database

Typical Habitats
The web is built among goldenrod or other high herbs, in open sunny fields, meadows or flower gardens.
Activity Patterns
This is an annual species; males are mature in July and August and females from August to October. Eggs are laid in autumn and the sac is papery, round and suspended among fallen leaves. Young winter in the cocoon and emerge in the spring (Dondale et al., 2003).
Extra Reading
Dondale, C. D., J. H. Redner, P. Paquin & H. W. Levi. 2003. The insects and arachnids of Canada. Part 23. The orb-weaving spiders of Canada and Alaska (Araneae: Uloboridae, Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Theridiosomatidae). NRC Research Press, Ottawa, 371 pp.
Other Web Pages
Animal Diversity Web (http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Argiope_aurantia.html)
The Nearctic Spider Database (http://www.canadianarachnology.org/data/spiders/15350)
Recent Submissions
Observation:
Although the yellow garden spider is normally plentiful where I live, I've seen very few this year. Recently I located two large females near the driveway. One built her web in a coralberry hedge and the other had her web in a rose bush called Belinda's Dream. No egg sacs were seen.


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