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Argiope trifasciata
	Female Argiope trifasciata - Cairo, Egypt, 2019.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Araneidae
Genus:	Argiope
Species:	A. trifasciata
Binomial name
	Argiope trifasciata; (Forskål, 1775)
Synonyms
	List Aranea trifasciata; Aranea fastuosa; Argiope aurelia; Epeira webbii; Epeira nephoda; Epeira aurelia; Epeira latreillana; Epeira mauricia; Epeira fastuosa; Epeira argyraspides; Epeira fasciata; Epeira flavipes; Epeira mauritia; Epeira latreilla; Nephila aurelia; Argiope plana; Argiope sticticalis; Argyropes indecissa; Argiope hentzi; Argiope fasciata; Argiope mauricia; Argiope transversa; Argiope argyraspis; Argiope avara; Metargiope trifasciata; Argiope fastuosa; Argiope simplex; Austrargiope plana; Metargyope trifasciata; Brachygea platycephala; Argiope pradhani; ;

Argiope trifasciata (the banded garden spider or banded orb weaving spider)^[2] is a species of spider native to North and South America, but now found around the world.^[3] It can be found in certain areas of Europe, namely the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands, and Madeira.^[4]^[2] The similar looking Argiope bruennichi is common in the Azores.^[5] They typically begin to appear during autumn from early September to late October as temperatures start dropping. In Egypt, the type locality of this spider, females were found surviving the relatively warm winter months.^[6]

Their webs can reach a diameter of about 60 cm. The length of the web depends on the size of the spider. Webs are capable of reaching a total length of two meters.

Behavior

In Illinois, Argiope trifasciata hatches in early summer but does not become readily notable until mid-August, when they have grown large enough to make their distinctive webs, which can be up to 60 cm (24 in) in diameter, among stems and bushes. The female rests at the centre of the web facing downwards, with her legs often arranged in pairs, making a cross shape; some female spiders conceal themselves in a hidden location close to the web, being alerted to a potential victim by a non-sticky thread leading to the center. Some segments of the web often have thicker threads known as stabilimenta forming a decorative pattern. Male spiders are much smaller than females and have their own small webs in close proximity to the females' webs. Argiope trifasciata is diurnal, and feeds on the insects that get snared in the web. Large, powerful prey like paper wasps, are swiftly wrapped in silk to immobilise them, before being injected with toxic saliva.^[7]

Subspecies

Argiope trifasciata deserticola Simon, 1906 (Sudan)
Argiope trifasciata kauaiensis Simon, 1900 (Hawaii)

Web silk decorations

The silk decorations of Argiope spiders are thought of as visual signals by researchers.^[8] Even though the purpose behind the silk decorations made by Argiope trifasciata remains uncertain, there are a few hypotheses: to make the spider appear larger and to act as a warning sign.^[9] It has been shown that webs containing stabilimenta catch fewer insects because they are less cryptic, but on the other hand these webs are less often damaged by birds flying through them.^[7]

Gallery

Female Crawling - Cairo, Egypt
Egg Sacs - Cairo, Egypt
Juvenile Female Under Dissecting Microscope - Cairo, Egypt
Female with prey item. An Egg Sac at the top of spider web - Cairo - Egypt
Female, dorsal view
Female, ventral view
The banded orb weaver wraps up a large milkweed bug and subsequently cuts it from its web
Egg sac, photographed in northern Texas