Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The wasp spider is a bold yellow-and-black orb-weaver native to Europe and temperate Asia. Its documented range does not include the United States. A similar spider photographed in an American garden is more likely a native yellow garden spider or banded garden spider.

Appearance

Appearance: Females have a long abdomen crossed by bright yellow, black, and pale bands and are much larger than males. Females are about 0.8–1 in (20–25 mm) long, while males are about 0.2–0.5 in (6–12 mm).

Look-alikes

yellow garden spiderArgiope aurantia

The yellow garden spider has large yellow patches against black, often with yellow spots down the middle. The wasp spider has repeated bands across its long abdomen.

Why they get mixed upBoth are large yellow-and-black Argiope spiders that sit in s with white silk decorations.

banded garden spiderArgiope trifasciata

The banded garden spider also has many thin bands, including silver-white bands, so a photo can be hard to separate. In the United States, its location is the stronger clue: the wasp spider has no documented U.S. range.

Why they get mixed upBoth have long abdomens crossed by many narrow bands.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: grasslands
field edges
roadside vegetation
low shrubs
Range: Its documented range extends from Europe across temperate Asia to Japan.
Preferred conditions: It uses sunny, grassy places where low vegetation can support a vertical orb web.

Behavior

Diet: It eats insects caught in its web.
Activity: In Britain, adults are most noticeable in late summer and fall. When disturbed, a spider may shake its web rapidly.
Social life: The spider waits near the center of a vertical orb web. Many webs have a conspicuous white zigzag or straight silk band through the center.
Overwintering: The eggs hatch before winter, and the young spiders remain inside the until spring.

Life cycle

Nest: The female encloses her eggs in a tough, urn-shaped egg sac attached among stems or low branches.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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