|
The number of emails we've had
from people in the United States trying to identify the
Black and Yellow Argiope or
St Andrew's Cross spider (as we call our
Australian variety) is quite astounding!! I've had a lot of questions about where the Argiopes are going to, as
some people have noticed that theirs has disappeared. Unfortunately this
lovely spider only has a short life span and once she has produced one
or more
(usually no more than 3) brown, papery egg sacs, she will die. The egg
sacs are roughly round in shape and up to 25 mm in diameter; each
contains 300 to 1400 eggs. She attaches her egg sacs to one side of her
web, close to her resting position at the centre. Each female will watch
over her eggs as long as she can, but will die in the first hard frost,
if not before. The eggs hatch in Autumn ( fall), but spiderlings stay in
the sac during winter and emerge in spring. (Milne and Milne 1980,Heiber
1992, Faulkner 1999). The St Andrew's Cross Spider
doesn't have dangerous venom. Its bite causes a mild local pain.
There are also other varieties of Argiopes - The
Banded Argiope and Silver
Argiope being two that have been sent in frequently. There are links
to photos of these and other argiopes below as well. |
|
|
|
BLACK & YELLOW ARGIOPES |
|
18 August, 2008:
The male clearly has palps in a drumstick shape--please enjoy or share as your wish.
|
 |
| .. |
|
18 August, 2008:
I have never seen a spider like this before. I found it in my backyard yesterday, I live in Rome, New York. Thanks to your site, I now know what it is.
Frank,
|
 |
| .. |
Reply: I'm not sure about the
male, it looks more like a Venusta Orchard spider.
18 August, 2008:
hi there, there has been this black and yellow argiope in front of my house for a week or so. Im afraid of spiders, but I find this one spider beautiful! I didn't know what it was, until I came across your website. lots of information! after I saw the website, I went back outside and found the male (correct me if I was wrong about the male) not that far from her. I even got my
camera out and took a couple of pictures. one picture she had just got another prey, another spider of some sort. anyways, I thought I would share these pictures with you.
~Phil |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
| .. |
18 August, 2008:
This pretty argiope is rebuilding her web after a heavy night
rain. (I blush to admit that I actually painted my house green
to have a better back drop for the spiders.) Ellen Broken Arrow
Oklahoma |
|
 |
 |
| .. |
|
29 July, 2008:
To Whom It May Concern;
I found this same looking spider on my back deck door window, I am curious if it is poisonous or not? If so what do I need to do if someone gets bitten before we are able to remove the spider, I am dreadfully afraid of spiders and will not go near it, I am fearful that my 4 year old may get to the back door to go in and out with the dogs without my knowledge. I will be removing the spider well having it removed by someone. I just want to make sure if one is in the area I am sure others are. I just want to know what kind of spider it is and if it is poisonous. Thanks for your time.
Sincerely
Faith
Click for a larger view.
|
 |
| .. |
|
29 July, 2008:
I found this spider on a plant behind my house. [the yellow one
Click for a larger view.
|
 |
| .. |
|
27 July, 2008:
We found this spider in our garden in eastern NC. We think it's a black and yellow argiope.
Thanks
Lisa
Click for a larger view.
|
 |
| .. |
11 July, 2008:
Hi! My name is Zachary and I’m 11 years old. I live in Indiana and for 3 weeks I’m on vacation in Florida. I have a sharp interest for spiders and know a lot of them. The other day I saw a interesting web when I came back from the store. I said I’d be a second and went to observe it. I thought I could recognize it as a banana spider but wanted to be sure so I called for help. When my grandparent came he said it was too small t be a banana spider. so I searched everywhere! But then I thought I found it. It said it was a Saint Andrews Cross spider but I wasn’t totally sure. So I went loo king around and found your website. I had a blast looking at all the spiders. So then I got the camera and took some pictures of this spidey. And then found how to contact you and well here it all is. This is my first time looking and typing to you so I hope you can identify my little friend20and any others I send. You can use any of my pics freely. Thanks and goodbye!!!!
Sincerely,
; ; Zachary
Click for a larger view.
|
Reply: This is probably a male black
and yellow argiope. |
| .. |
29 June, 2008:
Hi Glen,
I photographed these Argiopes in a patch of sunflowers between June 17, and June 24, 2008. There were a lot of them, with varying sizes. One of them was big enough by the 24th that I could see that they are juvenile Black and Yellow Argiopes. Feel free to use the pictures if you want. Also, you can view a video of me, feeding them here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_OKnoBG17w.
--Damy
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| .. |
|
22 June, 2008:
Have been trying to identify this guy seen in Zambia. Can you advise?
Jocelyn
|
 |
| .. |
|
10 May, 2008:
Also, a picture of a beautiful yellow garden spider, next
to my 15 year old cinnamon lady. I caught her because my
neighbors wanted to kill her as she had made her web in
their backyard. I later released her into the open space by
my house. Regards, Terry
|
|
 |
 |
| .. |
|
14 January, 2008:
Hi there,
I found this spider in the backyard of my house in South
Philly, PA.
It's body is as large as a half-dollar and it's web looked
like it
could capture a small bird, with a really dense silky patch
in the
center of the web.
|
 |
| .. |
|
22 October, 2007:
Hi Glen, Your web site is excellent! I have seen 2 of these
spiders, one last fall and now this year, there webs with the
zig-zag design is just amazing and I just had to find out more
about them and thanks to your web site I have. Monetta, Manchester Tn. Please enjoy the photo.
|
 |
| .. |
|
13 October, 2007:
Hello Glen, Found your website as I was looking
for a description of the spider in these pictures I
took this evening. I was surprised to find this
spider right out my back door. The web it had spun
was just beautiful but was unable to really capture
it. Is this a black and yellow argiope spider? I am
not a fan of spiders however, I really enjoy taking
unusual pictures and for me this was a first. Hope
to hear from you. Thanks.
|
 |
| .. |
|
13 October, 2007:
Please use or share as you feel fit, thanks
ellen
Click for a larger view.
|
 |
| .. |
1 October, 2007:
Found this on my back patio this morning in
Austin, Texas - looks somewhat similar to the
marbled orb spiders on the website, but has some
variations - black and orange legs, and the orb is
not as large. But definitely marbled! The body was
about an inch long.
Jay
Click for a larger view.
|
 |
| .. |
|
Click here for Page 2. Click here for Page
3. Click here for Page 4.
Click here for Page 5.
Click here for Page
6.
Click here for Page 7. Click here
for Page 8. |
|
|
| .. |
