Wasp (Argiope Bruennichi)

Belonging to the orb-weaver family, the wasp spider is indigenous to northern and Central Europe, alongside certain portions of Asia and North Africa.

Scientific Classification

• Family: Araneidae
• Genus: Argiope
• Scientific name: Argiopebruennichi

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Females are around 0.59 inches (1.5 cm) long, and males have a length of 0.17 inches (0.45 cm).

Color: Its body is a combination of yellow and black bands alongside stripes of white.

Other Characteristic Features: They have long abdomen and legs with a wavy pattern of stripes running through their body.

Eggs

Eggs are laid in a cocoon-shaped sac made by female spiders.

Spiderlings

After going through an overwintering process, young hatchlings arrive in the following spring

The Web

The spider makes a spiral web during dawn or dusk with the signature crisscross pattern at the center mostly used for attracting its prey.

Are Wasp Spiders Venomous

Their bite equivalent to a bee-sting is not harmful to humans.

Quick Facts

Distribution	Northern and central Europe, Asia, north Africa, and archipelago
Habitat	Grassland and vegetations
Diet	Insects
Web Type	Orb
Lifespan	1-3 years
Subspecies	Argiope bruennichini nigrofasciata
IUCN Conservation List	Not Listed

Did You Know

• Most of the male spiders plug themselves into the female spiders’ bodies so that the females don’t mate with others.
• Their coloration replicates the body of a wasp, hence the name.

Image Credits: Rdnhs.org.uk, Live.staticflickr.com, Srs.britishspiders.org.uk