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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. |
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31 July, 2010:
What kind of spider is this, at my house Knoxville Tn
Mike
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30 July, 2010:
Hi! I've attached a picture of a spider that I found near my house. We have many St Andrew Cross spiders but this one is larger and looks different. I don't want to remove him as long as he/she is not harmful.
Thanks for your help!
Toni
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5 July, 2010:
Hi Glen,
Attached are 2 pictures of a spider that made a funny looking web on a palm tree. It was taken in Prairieville, Louisiana.
My step son said that he thought it was a banana tree spider but it doesn’t look like any pictures that I have seen of one.
Can you tell what it is? I know the pictures aren’t the best.
Always a Bon Voyage!
Toni
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28 June, 2010:
Hello,
Pleae help.
I have lots of these [see picture attached] in my yard (Jacksonville, Fl.)
I've never seen it catch anything but they must as they all are between 3 and 5 inches across. I've never been bothered by this spiders and I notice when the wind is very still they move/pulse their web to simulate windy conditions.
What is it? What is the name... should I keep them in the yard or exterminate?
RuthClick for a larger view |
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28 June, 2010:
southeast georgia outside my home. do you think the
small spider is the big one's baby? |
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28 June, 2010:
Hi Glen,
Thought you might like to see another closeup of an argiope. It's the standard yellow and black one. This one was probably over 3" across the legs and is one of the largest I've seen. You're welcome to post it on your website if you'd like.
Thanks,
JohnClick for a larger view |
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17 June, 2010:
Hello Glen,
Love your site. It has helped in ID'ing some of the spiders I've photographed.
I'm attaching
- An argiope having lunch.
- A black widow
- Maybe a wolf spider. It was really enormous. It was larger than a sparrow. It would have been good to have positioned a ruler or something near the beast, but I wasn't going to get that close to it.
- An unknown spider
Cheers,
George,
New Jersey, USA |
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17 June, 2010:
Hi,
Can you help me identify this spider. It appears from what I can see to be most like a fisherman spider but I'm not sure.
For reference, I'm located in the Florida panhandle, about 1200 feet from water, though have a pool.
the spider was in bright sunlight on the pool enclosure.
Thanks
Mike |
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10 June, 2010:
Please identify this spider for me. I found it at the foot of my front door porch last summer. I live in southwest Nebraska, USA.
Thanks,
Dave |
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9 June, 2010:
Let me first tell you that I have always said that I hate spiders.... however, I cannot help taking pictures of the ones I find interesting. THIS one was super fun to look at, and I love the palm tree looking shape in the web!!
So maybe, after thinking about it, I don't so much hate spiders...
Thanks!
~Deb |
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7 February, 2010:
What kind of spiders are these, Glen? Hope you can use
these pics for your website. MC
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