''Argiope aetherea'' is a common, large
orb-web spider
Orb-weaver spiders are members of the spider family Araneidae. They are the most common group of builders of spiral wheel-shaped webs often found in gardens, fields, and forests. The English word "orb" can mean "circular", hence the English name ...
(family Araneidae). Like other species of ''
Argiope'', it is commonly known as the St Andrew's Cross spider, due to the characteristic cross-shaped
web decorations
A stabilimentum (plural: stabilimenta), also known as a web decoration, is a conspicuous silk structure included in the webs of some species of orb-web spider. Its function is a subject of debate.
Origin
It is likely that the use of stabiliment ...
female spiders often include in their webs. ''A. aetherea'' is similar in appearance to
''A. keyserlingi'', however female ''A. aetherea'' are generally larger than ''A. keyserlingi''.
Like most orb-web spiders, ''A. aetherea'' shows considerable
sexual size dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most ani ...
, with females being many times larger than males.
Distribution
''Argiope aetherea'' is found from China to Australia.
[
]
Subspecies
There exists a subspecies from New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu
Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea).
It is a simplified version of ...
:
* ''Argiope aetherea annulipes'' Thorell, 1881
Gallery
Argiope aetherea 5055.jpg, ''Argiope aetherea'' with cross shaped web decoration
Argiope aetherea ventral 2430.jpg, ''Argiope aetherea'' (female, ventral)
Argiope aetherea 7582.jpg, Female, dorsal
Argiope aetherea 7580.jpg, Same spider, ventral
A Spider found in Assam.jpg, ''Argiope aetherea''
References
aetherea
Spiders of Australia
Spiders of Asia
Spiders described in 1841
{{Araneidae-stub