The Life, The Plant Kingdom, Phylum Arthropoda, Class Arachnida, Order Araneae, Family Araneidae, Genus Argiope. A Wayƒarer′s Story & Photo Gallery

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Araneae

Family: Araneidae

Genus: Argiope

Species: A. aurantia

Common Name: Yellow garden spider, zipper spider

Conservation Status: LC

Subspecies: none

Description

Its scientific Latin name translates to English as gilded silver face.

[arigope meaning: silver-face and aurantia meaning gilded].

The abdomen has distinctive yellow and black markings.

The cepholothorax (head-thorax) is mostly white.

Males have a body length of about .25-.35 inch (6-9 mm).

Females have a body length of .75-1.10 inches (19-28 mm).

This species may bite if harassed, but the venom is harmless, unless allergic.

Bite intensity is equivalent to a bumblebee sting, with redness and swelling.

Habitat:

Yellow garden spiders often build webs in areas adjacent to open sunny fields where they stay concealed and protected from the wind. The spider can also be found along the eaves of houses and outbuildings or in any tall vegetation where they can securely stretch a web.

Range:

It is common to the contiguous United States, Hawaii, southern Canada, Mexico, and Central America.