Argiope trifasciata

Argiope trifasciata (the banded garden spider or banded orb weaving spider)[2] is a species of spider native to North and South America, but now found around the world.[3] It can be found in certain areas of Europe, namely the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands, and Madeira,[4][2] 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.

Argiope trifasciata
female, ventral view
dorsal view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Argiope
Species:
A. trifasciata
Binomial name
Argiope trifasciata
(Forskål, 1775)[1]
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

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.

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

Web silk decorations

The silk decorations of Argiope spiders are thought of as visual signals by researchers.[5] Even though the purpose behind the silk decorations made by Argiope trifasciata remains uncertain, there are a few hypotheses: to make the spider appear larger and to act as a warning sign.[6]

References
  1. "ITIS standard report - Argiope trifasciata (Forsskål, 1775)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  2. "Top 20 Arachnids". Utah State University Extension Service. Archived from the original on September 16, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  3. "Taxon details Argiope trifasciata (Forsskål, 1775)", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2019-11-17
  4. Fauna Europea
  5. Walter, A. (2019). "Silk decorations in Argiope spiders: Consolidation of pattern variation and specific signal function". Journal of Arachnology. 47 (2): 271–275. doi:10.1636/JoA-S-18-013.
  6. Butt, A.; Alam, I. & Naz, R. (2017). "Variations in Web Architecture of Argiope trifasciata (Araneae, Araneidae) and Its Relationship with Body Parameters and Entangled Prey". Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 49 (3): 855–860. doi:10.17582/journal.pjz/2017.49.3.855.860.


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