Banded Garden Spiders – Argiope trifasciata

Banded Garden Spiders   Scientific Name: Argiope trifasciata Common Name: Banded garden spiders, Banded orb-weaving spiders, Banded Argiope, Banded orb weavers. Appearance: Male banded garden spiders have a body length of 4-5 mm, while the female is comparatively large with a length of 15-25 mm. The abdomen has stripes of yellow, silver, and black color and is overall oval with a pointed posterior end. The carapace has silver hairs. Legs are pale yellowish with black spots or stripes. Host Plants or Food: Insectivorous, feed on small insects and sometimes on large insects also like paper wasps and grasshopper when they get trapped in their web. Territory: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia Mode of Damage: Banded garden spiders are beneficial garden insects. Habits and Life History: Banded garden spiders usually prefer a drier environment to live. They are found in fields, tall grass, open areas, gardens, etc. They are mostly seen from mid to late summer and die with the first frost. After mating, the female builds an eggs sac which is cup or kettledrum shaped. Female lays eggs in egg sac which may contain up to 1000 eggs. Adult banded garden spiders die as the winter approaches while eggs overwinter. As the temperature drops and spring comes, eggs hatch into spiderlings which gradually mature into adult banded garden spiders.