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Argiope australis
Life
> Eukaryotes
>
Opisthokonta >
Metazoa
(animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra >
Arthropoda > Arachnomorpha > Cheliceriformes > Chelicerata > Euchelicerata
> Arachnida > Araneae
> Araneomorpha > Family: Araneidae
> Genus: Argiope
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Argiope australis. [image H. Robertson
©]. |
Argiope australlis underside. [image
N. Larsen ©] |
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Argiope australis
with prey. [image N. Larsen ©] |
Argiope australis egg sac.
[image N. Larsen ©] |
Argiope australis (25mm body
length) has a scalloped abdomen with yellow and black bands. On the Cape
Peninsula some spiders have orange and black bands. Argiope australis
occurs over most of Africa except in forests from South Africa northwards to
north-east Africa. It is commonly seen from about January to June on its web
amongst low base vegetation, within a metre from the ground. Males are tiny,
measuring 5.5mm, and can often be seen in or near the females web. Juvenile
females appear to have a more slender build.
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Argiope australis (Araneidae) male above,
female in middle and wrapped prey below. [image N. Larsen ©] |
Argiope australlis (Araneidae)
spiderlings 1 week after hatching. [image N. Larsen ©] |
Text by Norman Larsen ©. |
