Argiope argentata
| Argiope argentata | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argiope argentata |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Argiope argentata | ||||||||||||
| ( Fabricius , 1775) |
Argiope argentata is aspider from the family of the real orb web spiders nativeto the American tropics and subtropics .
description
The males reach a body length of approx. 4 mm, females up to 14 mm. In the females, the prosoma (foreleg) is hairy silver-white. The opisthosoma (abdomen) is also silvery-white on the upper side in the front part and shows two broad, dark, mostly yellowish-brown longitudinal ligaments from about the middle, which in extreme cases merge. The opisthosoma has two paired, large, hump-like processes on the outer edges. The legs are ringed light-dark.
In contrast to the female, the prosoma in the male is yellowish and shows two brownish longitudinal ligaments. The opisthosoma is whitish and also shows two brownish longitudinal bands, it has no lateral humps.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of Argiope argentata extends from the south of the USA (south of the states of California , Texas , Arizona and Florida ) to the south to central Argentina . The species inhabits shrubbery and gardens, it is particularly common on opuntia .
Network construction
Similar to the wasp spider native to Central Europe, the orb network usually shows wide zigzag bands, so-called stabiliments . With Argiope argentata there can be up to four stabiliments in the network, which then result in a very striking X-shape. Like all representatives of the genus, the spider usually sits upside down in the middle of the web.
Females in the net
Females shortly after moulting, old skin on top
Web links
Argiope argentata in the World Spider Catalog
Individual evidence
- ↑ Natural History Museum of the Burgergemeinde Bern: World Spider Catalog Version 15.5 - Argiope argentata . Retrieved September 7, 2014.