Black-and-Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia)

Black-and-Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia)

One of our largest, brightest, and most frequently noticed spiders, the Black-and-Yellow Argiope is very common throughout North Carolina. They are also known as the garden spider (since they're very common in gardens) or writing spider (for the patterns in their webs). They catch large insects in their sturdy webs, including grasshoppers and butterflies. They are harmless to humans.

How do you pronounce Argiope? According to the folks at bugguide, it's ar-GUY-oh-pee.

Craven Co. 9/3/03.

Black-and-Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia)

This one has caught a migrating Monarch butterfly! You can see some of the "writing" in this web.

New Hanover Co., NC 8/26/06.

Black-and-Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia)

This one has caught a cicada (Tibicen sp.) in its web! I didn't notice them while I was taking the photo, but if you look closely you'll see there are two other spiders seemingly waiting in the wings.

Durham Co., NC 8/19/07.

Black-and-Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia)

Demonstrating its "writing" ability... mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Durham Co., NC 8/23/09.

Black-and-Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia)

Durham Co., NC 8/23/09.

Black-and-Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia)

One of the largest ones I've seen.

Bladen Co., NC 10/7/06.

Black-and-Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia)

This one has caught a dragonfly -- a male Eastern Pondhawk, which is, or was, itself a voracious predator.

Craven Co., NC 8/31/08.

Recommended spider ID books

All photographs and text ©2013 by Will Cook unless otherwise noted.