Argiope trifasciata

Argiope trifasciata
dorsal view
female, ventral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Family:	Araneidae
Genus:	Argiope
Species:	A. trifasciata
Binomial name
Argiope trifasciata (Forskål, 1775)
Synonyms
Aranea trifasciata Aranea fastuosa Argiope aurelia Epeira webbii Epeira nephoda Epeira aurelia Epeira latreillana Epeira mauricia Epeira fastuosa Epeira argyraspides Epeira fasciata Epeira flavipes Epeira mauritia Epeira latreilla Nephila aurelia Argiope plana Argiope sticticalis Argyropes indecissa Argiope hentzi Argiope fasciata Argiope mauricia Argiope transversa Argiope argyraspis Argiope avara Metargiope trifasciata Argiope fastuosa Argiope simplex Austrargiope plana Metargyope trifasciata Brachygea platycephala Argiope pradhani

Argiope trifasciata (banded garden spider) is a species of spider found around the world. It can be found in certain areas of Europe, namely the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands, and Madeira. The similar looking Argiope bruennichi is common in the Azores. Considered a pest in some areas, they typically begin to appear during autumn from early September to late October as temperatures start dropping.

Their webs can reach a diameter of about 60 cm. The length of the web depends on the size of the spider, capable of reaching a total length of 2 meters.

Young spider

Subspecies

• Argiope trifasciata deserticola Simon, 1906 (Sudan)
• Argiope trifasciata kauaiensis Simon, 1900 (Hawaii)

External links

• Banded Garden Spider
• BugGuide.net: Many pictures of A. trifasciata
• Diagnostic photographs and descriptions: Argiope trifasciata Creative Commons Licensed