|
The number of emails we've had
from people in the United States trying to identify the
Black and Yellow Argiope or
St Andrew's Cross spider (as we call our
Australian variety) is quite astounding!! I've had a lot of questions about where the Argiopes are going to, as
some people have noticed that theirs has disappeared. Unfortunately this
lovely spider only has a short life span and once she has produced one
or more
(usually no more than 3) brown, papery egg sacs, she will die. The egg
sacs are roughly round in shape and up to 25 mm in diameter; each
contains 300 to 1400 eggs. She attaches her egg sacs to one side of her
web, close to her resting position at the centre. Each female will watch
over her eggs as long as she can, but will die in the first hard frost,
if not before. The eggs hatch in Autumn ( fall), but spiderlings stay in
the sac during winter and emerge in spring. (Milne and Milne 1980,Heiber
1992, Faulkner 1999). The St Andrew's Cross Spider
doesn't have dangerous venom. Its bite causes a mild local pain.
There are also other varieties of Argiopes - The
Banded Argiope and Silver
Argiope being two that have been sent in frequently. There are links
to photos of these and other argiopes below as well. |
| . |
|
27 August, 2010:
Hey,
I found this spider sitting in the window (out side) of my new apartment. James
Click for a larger view |
|
 |
 |
| .. |
27 August, 2010:
Glen,
My husband took this shot of the Black and Yellow Argiope in N.E Georgia about a month ago. I had never seen anything like it before and found your website that immediately helped me identify it. I was so excited to find one in my own backyard today in NC; also relieved that it is harmless.
Thanks,
I love your website. |
_small.JPG) |
|
_small.JPG) |
_small.JPG) |
|
_small.JPG) |
_small.JPG) |
|
_small.JPG) |
_small.JPG) |
| .. |
|
27 August, 2010:
Found this guy next to me front door.
Can you tell me what it is.?
|
 |
| .. |
|
27 August, 2010:
Here is another shot and this kind of spider they say is everywhere!
They say that their eyes glow green at night!!! YUK!
My name is Nancy by the way and thanks Glen for helping!
|
 |
| .. |
|
27 August, 2010:
Hey,
I found this spider sitting in the window (out side) of my new apartment. James
Click for a larger view |
 |
| .. |
21 August, 2010:
I live in Swartz creek, MI. And found this spider in my bushes around the house.....
I never saw a spider like this before. Can you tell me what kind this is and if it's anything I should worry about with the kids....
The spider caught a moth in it's web, the kids thought it was cool but I told them to leave it alone.
Thanks,
Mike M.
Click for a larger view |
|
 |
 |
| .. |
|
Reply: This is a black and yellow argiope - glen
21 August, 2010:
Hi Glen, A friend of mine snapped a picture of a spider we'd
never seen before and we were hoping you'd be able to ID
it for us. Thanx, Greg
Click for a larger view |
 |
| .. |
|
Reply: This is the
underside of a black and yellow argiope - glen
14 August, 2010:
What is this?
Click for a larger view |
 |
| .. |
|
8 August, 2010:
This pretty critter was outside my window last week. I left her alone.
Jim
Click for a larger view |
 |
| .. |
|
2 August, 2010:
I Found this gorgeous Argiope in our backyard in Houston, TX – size is 4-5 inches.
Beth
Click for a larger view |
_small.JPG) |
| .. |
2 August, 2010:
not sure if this is the way to find out...
but I came across this spider in my backyard in florida
the photo really does not even do it justice
it has spider legs...a head like a salamander...and stingers on the back like a scorpion
do you what kind of spider it is?
thanks
kristy |
|
 |
 |
| .. |
|
1 August, 2010:
I do not think the pic went thro. |
 |
| .. |
|
1 August, 2010:
This fellow was hanging from the Y in GROCERY at a convininece store in central Texas (between Austin and Houston). Any idea what kind it is?
|
 |
| .. |
|
31 July, 2010:
What kind of spider is this, at my house Knoxville Tn
Mike
|
 |
| .. |
|
30 July, 2010:
Hi! I've attached a picture of a spider that I found near my house. We have many St Andrew Cross spiders but this one is larger and looks different. I don't want to remove him as long as he/she is not harmful.
Thanks for your help!
Toni
|
 |
| .. |
|
5 July, 2010:
Hi Glen,
Attached are 2 pictures of a spider that made a funny looking web on a palm tree. It was taken in Prairieville, Louisiana.
My step son said that he thought it was a banana tree spider but it doesn’t look like any pictures that I have seen of one.
Can you tell what it is? I know the pictures aren’t the best.
Always a Bon Voyage!
Toni
|
 |
| .. |
28 June, 2010:
Hello,
Pleae help.
I have lots of these [see picture attached] in my yard (Jacksonville, Fl.)
I've never seen it catch anything but they must as they all are between 3 and 5 inches across. I've never been bothered by this spiders and I notice when the wind is very still they move/pulse their web to simulate windy conditions.
What is it? What is the name... should I keep them in the yard or exterminate?
RuthClick for a larger view |
 |
| .. |
28 June, 2010:
southeast georgia outside my home. do you think the
small spider is the big one's baby? |
|
 |
 |
| .. |
28 June, 2010:
Hi Glen,
Thought you might like to see another closeup of an argiope. It's the standard yellow and black one. This one was probably over 3" across the legs and is one of the largest I've seen. You're welcome to post it on your website if you'd like.
Thanks,
JohnClick for a larger view |
 |
| .. |
17 June, 2010:
Hello Glen,
Love your site. It has helped in ID'ing some of the spiders I've photographed.
I'm attaching
- An argiope having lunch.
- A black widow
- Maybe a wolf spider. It was really enormous. It was larger than a sparrow. It would have been good to have positioned a ruler or something near the beast, but I wasn't going to get that close to it.
- An unknown spider
Cheers,
George,
New Jersey, USA |
 |
| .. |
17 June, 2010:
Hi,
Can you help me identify this spider. It appears from what I can see to be most like a fisherman spider but I'm not sure.
For reference, I'm located in the Florida panhandle, about 1200 feet from water, though have a pool.
the spider was in bright sunlight on the pool enclosure.
Thanks
Mike |
 |
| .. |
|
10 June, 2010:
Please identify this spider for me. I found it at the foot of my front door porch last summer. I live in southwest Nebraska, USA.
Thanks,
Dave |
 |
| .. |
|
9 June, 2010:
Let me first tell you that I have always said that I hate spiders.... however, I cannot help taking pictures of the ones I find interesting. THIS one was super fun to look at, and I love the palm tree looking shape in the web!!
So maybe, after thinking about it, I don't so much hate spiders...
Thanks!
~Deb |
 |
| .. |
|
7 February, 2010:
What kind of spiders are these, Glen? Hope you can use
these pics for your website. MC
|
 |
 |
| .. |
Click here for Page 2.
Click here for Page 3. Click here for Page
4. Click here for Page 5.
Click here for Page 6. Click here for Page
7.
Click here for Page 8. Click here
for Page 9.
Click here for Page 10 |
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
