Black-and-Yellow Argiope Spider (Argiope aurantia) juvenile

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Black-and-Yellow Argiope Spider (Argiope aurantia) [juvenile]

Also called writing spiders, banana spiders

The stabilimentum of adults is in a zig zag pattern. Juveniles stay within a circular “bullseye” stabilimentum and seem almost invisible until they acquire their coloring as they age.

These spiders are pest control machines. I’ve seen them eating grasshoppers on numerous occasions, some much larger than themselves. They also are my favorites because they capture May Beetles before they can fly into the house at night when the door opens.

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-24_spider_blackandyellow_argiope.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2020/07/16/along-came-a-spider/

###