Yellow Garden SpiderArgiope aurantia
Quick facts
- Rarity
- Rare
- Active during
- Morning
- Found in
- Strawbend Fields
- Length
- 3 in
- Wingspan
- 2 in
From the field notes
Diet
These spiders spin massive circular webs in sunny spots, perfectly positioned to catch flying prey like flies, moths, and grasshoppers. They deliver a paralyzing bite only once their target is completely immobilized in the web.
Defense
When threatened, these spiders will aggressively bounce and shake their entire web so that their bodies become a rapid chaotic blur that confuses wasps and passing predators.
Architecture
At the center of their webs is a signature bright white zigzag of silk called a stabilimentum. It reflects UV light to attract insect prey, while also acting as a visible 'stop sign' to prevent birds from flying through.
Nursery
As autumn approaches, the female spends her final days spinning a waterproof, brown egg sac. She fastens it securely in nearby vegetation, where hundreds of spiderlings remain safely insulated through the winter.
Field Marks
The female has the signature heavy yellow-and-black abdomen and can span over two inches across. The male is a fraction of her size, drab brown, and often hides on the outer edges of her web.