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Black & Gold Garden Spider

Argiope aurantia

Photo by GregMayberry
Published on Project Noah
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34.4125, -96.5421

Field Notes

Description:

Also known as a "signature spider" because of the zig-zag pattern in the web, this spider is found in both rural and urban environments. It is identified by the black and yellow "mask" pattern on its back.

Habitat:

Suitable habitat for this spider is quite generalized. They are equally at home in tall grass, cat-tails, window sills, and everything in between. If there is any chance of an insect passing by, these spiders will build a web and wait.

Notes:

The abdomen of this female will grow dramatically in the following months leading up to egg laying.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
GregMayberry
Thank you for the information, S Frazier! I did not know that they needed to be separate observations. Also, thanks for the clarification re: brooding behavior. Sorry about the mixup! Greg
Scott Frazier
Hello Greg. Very nice macros.These look like different individuals. Separate individuals of the same species photographed at different times and places are separate observations and should be made into separate spottings. Each "spotting" is a record for that species at a time and place. For the Brooding Behavior mission the adult parent needs to be in the same photograph with the egg/juveniles. I'm looking for actual depictions of the behavior. Thanks!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
International Spider Survey
Mission
BioBlitz! Oklahoma
Mission
Eggs of the World
Mission
Camp Simpson Biological Survey

Tags

Photographed
PublishedJanuary 9, 2012

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