''Argiope ocyaloides'' is a species of

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 ...

found in Queensland,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. It is commonly known as bark-hugging St Andrews cross spider. ''Argiope ocyaloides'' can be found in crevices of dark coloured bark on eucalypt,

acacia ''Acacia'', commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa and Australasia. The genus na ...

, or similar trees. It is smaller than most other species of Argiope and is dark brown to black in colour. The abdomen of ''Argiope ocyaloides'' is long with a pointed tip whereas the similar species ''

Argiope mascordi ''Argiope mascordi'' is a species of orb-web spider found in Queensland, Australia. The females of this species are smaller and less colourful than many other spiders in the genus '' Argiope''. Males are larger than many other ''Argiope''. We ...

'' has a shorter abdomen with rounded tip.

Gallery

Argiope ocyaloides (male) 3A3319.jpg, Male, north Queensland Argiope ocyaloides 48821.jpg, Colour variation in a female, north Queensland

References

ocyaloides Spiders of Australia Spiders described in 1871 {{Araneidae-stub