Argiope (spider)

Argiope
Temporal range:
A. flavipalpis on web with stabilimentum
in Ghana
Writing spider eating a swallowtail butterfly
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Argiope
Audouin, 1826
Type species
Aranea lobata
Pallas, 1772
Species

86, see text.

Synonyms
  • Austrargiope

The genus Argiope includes rather large orb weaver spiders that often have a strikingly coloured abdomen. These spiders are distributed throughout the world. Most countries in tropical or temperate climates host one or more Argiope species.