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Banded Garden (Argiope trifasciata)

The banded garden is a species of common spiders found in two subspecies, Argiope trifasciata deserticola, and Argiope trifasciata kauaiensis. These spiders cannot withstand very cold temperatures and are normally not seen during winter, when they often die out.

Scientific Classification

Banded Garden Spider

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Females can be 13-14.5 mm when fully extended, while the males are about one-third smaller than the former.

Color: The dorsal side of the spider is covered with silvery setae with several black lines across the body. Their legs are bright yellowish-brown along with darker rings.

Other Characteristic Features: A yellow banding can be seen in some specimens, while the others lack it.

Banded Garden Spider Size
Female Banded Garden Spider

Eggs

The eggs are protected inside an egg sac that the mother spider attaches to vegetation. The general shape of the sac is like a kettle drum. This is an overwintering stage and hatches during around springtime.

Banded Garden Spider Egg Sac

Spiderlings

As the eggs hatch, the spiderlings usually disperse by ballooning with wind currents. The mother takes care of the young ones until they grow up and are able to find food for themselves. They capture prey items by snaring them in sticky webs, and when stuck, they paralyzing them with venom injected through the fangs.

Banded Garden Spiderling

How Poisonous is the Banded Garden Spider

These spiders have fangs and use their poison only to capture prey. It is not at all fatal to humans. Even if an individual is bitten, the symptoms only involve local rashes to mild redness.

Banded Garden Spider Web

Quick Facts

Other Names Banded orb-weaving spider
Lifespan Around a year
Distribution around the world, except in high elevations
Habitat Gardens, amidst tall grasses, shrubs and average to densely vegetated regions
Common predators Prey birds, lizards, and larger spiders
Diet Mostly insects such as wasps and grasshoppers
Banded Garden Spider Image

Did You Know

  • A zigzagged cluster of silk can be seen at the center of the web which increases visibility for those walking nearby.
Banded Orb-Weaving Spider

Image Credits: Static.inaturalist.org, I.pinimg.com, Plants-animals-northeast-colorado.com, Farm8.staticflickr.com, Cirrusimage.com,
Bugwoodcloud.org, Fcmdsc.files.wordpress.com, Greglasley.com

The banded garden is a species of common spiders found in two subspecies, Argiope trifasciata deserticola, and Argiope trifasciata kauaiensis. These spiders cannot withstand very cold temperatures and are normally not seen during winter, when they often die out.

Banded Garden Spider

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Females can be 13-14.5 mm when fully extended, while the males are about one-third smaller than the former.

Color: The dorsal side of the spider is covered with silvery setae with several black lines across the body. Their legs are bright yellowish-brown along with darker rings.

Other Characteristic Features: A yellow banding can be seen in some specimens, while the others lack it.

Banded Garden Spider Size
Female Banded Garden Spider

Eggs

The eggs are protected inside an egg sac that the mother spider attaches to vegetation. The general shape of the sac is like a kettle drum. This is an overwintering stage and hatches during around springtime.

Banded Garden Spider Egg Sac

Spiderlings

As the eggs hatch, the spiderlings usually disperse by ballooning with wind currents. The mother takes care of the young ones until they grow up and are able to find food for themselves. They capture prey items by snaring them in sticky webs, and when stuck, they paralyzing them with venom injected through the fangs.

Banded Garden Spiderling

How Poisonous is the Banded Garden Spider

These spiders have fangs and use their poison only to capture prey. It is not at all fatal to humans. Even if an individual is bitten, the symptoms only involve local rashes to mild redness.

Banded Garden Spider Web

Quick Facts

Other Names Banded orb-weaving spider
Lifespan Around a year
Distribution around the world, except in high elevations
Habitat Gardens, amidst tall grasses, shrubs and average to densely vegetated regions
Common predators Prey birds, lizards, and larger spiders
Diet Mostly insects such as wasps and grasshoppers
Banded Garden Spider Image

Did You Know

  • A zigzagged cluster of silk can be seen at the center of the web which increases visibility for those walking nearby.
Banded Orb-Weaving Spider

Image Credits: Static.inaturalist.org, I.pinimg.com, Plants-animals-northeast-colorado.com, Farm8.staticflickr.com, Cirrusimage.com,
Bugwoodcloud.org, Fcmdsc.files.wordpress.com, Greglasley.com