Genus: Argiope (A. aurantia and A. trifasciata) Photo Gallery by lejun at pbase.com

Genus: Argiope (A. aurantia and A. trifasciata)

This Black and Yellow Argiope ( Argiope aurantia ) is one of the more attractive American spiders.
This series of images depict this spider in its natural environment.
This species prefers sunny areas among flowers, shrubs, and tall plants.
It can be found in many types of habitats.

For excellent background information on this species, see: http://www.bugguide.net/node/view/2025

Also note Banded Garden Spider (Argiope trifasciata) and Silver Argiope (Argiope argentata) at bottom of gallery.

Capturing Prey by Web Vibration: Video	Female, dorsal	Male, dorsal	Female, dorsal	Male, dorsal	Male, Ventral
Male, dorsal	Adult, dorsal	Male, ventral	Adult, dorsal	Adult, ventral	Male, ventral
Male, dorsal	Adult, ventral	Adult, dorsal	Adult, lateral	Adult, ventral	Adult, ventral
Male, ventral	Male, ventral	Adult, dorsal	Female, dorsal, and web	Female, anterior	Female, anterior
Female, head detail	Adult wrapping prey with silk	Adult wrapping prey with silk	Adult ventral consuming prey	Very young juvenile, dorsal	Immature, dorsal
Immature, dorsal	Immature, dorsal	Immature, dorsal	Immature, dorsal	Adult, dorsal	Garden Spider on Maui, Hawai'i
Banded Garden Spider (A. trifasciata)	Silver Argiope Spider (A. argentata)	Silver Argiope Spider (Ventral)

comment

Guest		21-Sep-2013 17:40
This is the first year I have seen one in my yard. It had made its home in my Cana Lilly plants. What a beauty!!!! I had to find out if they are venomous and am pleased to find out they are not. I'm sad to read that it will die this winter. I hope some of its offspring will be here next year.

MP Carney		29-Sep-2012 02:21
Outstanding presentation. An amazing creature.. had one in our garden also.

lejun		06-Sep-2012 01:24
To learn more about this beautiful spider, please log on to this link: http://bugguide.net/node/view/2025

Guest		06-Sep-2012 00:19
We have one of these spiders making a very impressive web in our tomato plants by our back porch. It is so facininating to watch everyday. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't poisonious so I came to check out the details.

Elizabeth S.		04-Sep-2012 20:00
We had one in our flower bed, but it disappeared. So pretty for a spider.

Guest		16-Sep-2011 18:27
Wow, first I saw the shadow of this spider then realized how big it was. I have never seen one before, do they bite? diane

Nancy w		28-Jul-2011 18:34
Thanks for the great website. I have about 50 tomato plants and saw 5 of these spiders throughout the rows. I think they are guarding my tomatoes from unwanted pests, so I'm happy they decided to make the garden their home!

Tina Woolfolk		02-Oct-2010 15:46
My husband and I saw one doing a carpet cleaning at an apatment complex by the entrance in some bushes. It had a huge web and sitting in the middle of it enjoying the sun. It was an amazing sight, I am terrified of spiders! Had to look it up online to see what kind it was! Wow is all I can say at this point.

Lauren		02-Oct-2010 11:39
My four year old son and I were searching for some cool photos of spiders online. Thanks!

Megan		20-Jul-2010 21:49
Growing up my grandmother called these yellow and black "garden spiders" and they used to build nests in the flower gardens along the foundation of the house. I always thought they were pretty and interesting to watch. I hadn't seen one for maybe 20 years, but just the other day I found one on a very large web that spanned from overhanging maple branches to some tall weeds along the edge of my property. It must be a female because it's about the size of a quarter, I could easily see it from quite a distance. I'm hoping my dogs don't disturb it, and that it eats a lot of unpleasant bugs.

Nicole Foster		22-Sep-2009 07:16
We have one in our back garden and i must say its one of the most amazing spiders i have ever seen. I was so amazed by it i spent most my day watching it and taking pictures. Its just a pitty she is going to die in the soon to come winter. I named her Wanda, i just wish it wasnt crule to take her from the garden and keep her so she wouldnt die.

Joyce RL		23-Aug-2008 14:12
Having been blessed by three occurances of these beauties building their webs on our front storm door over the years, I can at least let you know that those papery balls are egg sacs. Everytime one of these "writing spiders" gives us the joy of building a web where we can see it, especially on the storm door, we take extra precautions to make sure that none of our neighbors bother them for the duration of their stay. We have even been fortunate enough to see some newly emerged babies before the winds carried them away to their new homes. They are beautiful in all stages.

David		24-Nov-2007 22:35
We had one of these spiders make a web on our front porch this summer and when it died it left two round balls near where the web was what was the purpose of these two balls?

dave		03-Oct-2007 20:58
my mom got bit by one today so we went here

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