Talk:Argiope aurantia

Clean up?
The tag says it needs clean up, but it doesn't say why. I'm adding an unreferenced tag, too, but if progress is to be made, what exactly needs changed should be mentioned here. Garnet Avi 22:50, 16 December 2006 (UTC)


 * I think the article perhaps a bit too colorful and suffers from Inappropriate tone. Some examples:
 * "Orb-web spiders build circular webs which serve a dual purpose as full-time residence and place of business."


 * "A hiker rummaging through brush on the edge of a field or a child retrieving a ball from behind bushes can sometimes enjoy an exciting face-to-face encounter."


 * "The spider cocoons the catch and later removes it to the center of the web to be consumed like a malted milk."


 * "So where did they go after leaving the egg sac and how did they change into large colorful adults?"


 * "It's doubtful they are reading books during the winter-stay in the protective sac, but they must be doing something that affects which spiders reach maturity."
 * 74.192.152.246 01:19, 10 July 2007 (UTC)

I'm running through and trying to remove some of the more "colorful" bits. I think it will shorten the article substantially, but I'll try not to take out any hard information. Joyous! | Talk 20:48, 29 July 2007 (UTC) does it say what the spiders leg span is.

Cleaned up enough?
I've removed the casually-toned bits and essentially rewritten the article. Any objections to removing the "tone" tag? Joyous! | Talk 02:06, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

Venom/Bites?
Is there a way to add some information about this spiders venom or biting capability? Especially it's effects on mamals? Thanks!137.240.136.81

I added a line to the first section acknowledging that they are harmless to humans. (I don't have any information about other mammals.) BobbyPeru 17:33, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

Can someone revert the malicious edits to the first section which added references to "flesh-eating venom"? This is patently false... Chamelaeon (talk) 02:18, 27 November 2008 (UTC)
 * NM, I got it. Chamelaeon (talk) 02:21, 27 November 2008 (UTC)

Bites by spiders of the genus Argiope are not common. Some sources even report that they will not bite humans (which is not true). Others claim they are not venomous (also not true). The truth is they are venomous, and records of humans being bitten by these spiders do exist.

Although these spiders are not aggressive, they will bite if handled, especially when treated roughly. Persons who have been bitten report an immediate sharp pain that is felt at the site of the bite, but because the venom is rather weak it typically fails to produce serious corollary swelling or irritation. Minor itching and/or swelling at the bite itself has been observed. Common over-the-counter antihistamines are said, by some, sufficient to relieve the pain. As time passes, and no additional discomfort develops, the anxiety associated with the bite subsides as well.

Secondary infections have been reported that apparently have nothing to do with the spider's natural venom. If a sore or an ulcer develops as a result of being bitten by this or any spider, you should seek medical assistance, as the infection may involve a pathogen acquired by the spider from the organisms it preys upon.

Important Notice

We are investigating the risk of secondary infections that may occur as a result of bites from this and other, otherwise harmless spiders whose venom is known to pose little or no danger to humans. In the process, we are collecting information on experiences persons have had with such spider bites. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.195.176.120 (talk) 08:17, 6 September 2012 (UTC)

Photo for physical appearance section
A few weeks ago, I replaced the image in the Physical appearance section with another photo. This change was subsequently reverted a week later by 194.200.201.82. Since the image I added was my own image, I may be biased in preferring it, so I would like to present both images for you to judge:



Personally, I think that the bottom image is too similar to the info box image and is also slightly out of focus. The top image is higher resolution and also presents a better view of the spider's thorax and pedipalp. What do the rest of you think? Kaldari 01:50, 11 September 2007 (UTC)


 * I prefer the top image. The focus is better, and the background is much less distracting. Joyous! | Talk 11:35, 11 September 2007 (UTC)


 * The top image doesn't appear to be an Argiope aurantia. I know this is a moot point because neither photo is included in the article, but I still felt like pointing this out. Annie.barber (talk) 04:20, 8 August 2010 (UTC)

The bottom image is exactly what I have living next to my garage door for the last couple of weeks. The "zig-zag" web design shown is much more informative and conclusive to what I was looking for. Even with my wife's and daughter's objection, I have chosen to adopt the spider and allow it to "do its thing." I've even given it a grasshopper or two. Its design and abilities are amazing: [seventhson] —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.154.40.180 (talk) 04:19, 14 September 2007 (UTC)
 * Yes, but the section the image appears in is Physical appearance, as in physical appearance of the spider, not the spider web. Kaldari 20:25, 18 September 2007 (UTC)

I don't know if this is unusual but I have one of these spiders living on my pasture gate and she is easily 2" in the body with a leg span of at least 5". She is a beautiful spider and not shy at all. I moved her from my gate to a berry bush not far away and the next day she was back on the gate. My wife is afraid of her and wants me to get rid of her but I like her so how do I keep her off my gate?

Fact validity
I noticed the following statement: "Female webs can exist as close as ten feet from each other, but there is usually more distance between webs." I have to question that. I have a large cactus plant in my garden, and it is inhabited by about 5 or 6 yellow garden spiders. Some of them are as little as three feet away from each other.

Of course, since I don't have a citation and this would be considered "original research", I'm not going to edit the article, but I thought I'd bring this up. WordyGirl90 22:02, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

Here in Colorado we have one that looks just like the bottom picture. We have noticed, after watering our garden, that it can spit a couple of feet. This is not a venomous spider, RIGHT?63.231.108.3 17:59, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

Argiope aurantia is not venomous. I've never seen any mention of them spitting, so I can't guarantee that what you've got is this kind of spider, though. Joyous! | Talk 01:54, 17 September 2007 (UTC)


 * I'm curious about the image in the 'Webs' section. What's the purpose of holding up a coin to the spider? (Did the spider accept it?) I don't see how this tells us any more than the article already does about the size of the spider. We don't know how far behind the coin the spider is - they're not in focus at the same time. Pavium 22:35, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

I was just vactioning at Emerald Isle, NC and saw quite a few of these lovely spiders. They were very colorful and many were, in fact, much larger than 3 inches in diameter (without their legs). They ran from 2-5 inches I would say. We noticed them making their webs up in the trees and couldn't believe some were so huge. Also, in one such case, two spiders had made webs right in front of each other, roughly 5 or 6 inches apart. This was amidst the vegetation/shrubbery along the beach access walkway across the dunes which was very thick. There were at least 15-20 of these spiders living among this area which was about 50-75 feet long and between two beachfront homes.Slemar (talk) 15:33, 8 September 2008 (UTC)


 * I have one living at my garage door, too! Amazing! I also intend to let it "do it's thing". 68.32.170.39 (talk) 01:38, 9 September 2008 (UTC)S. Gotshall, Crofton, MD 9/8/08


 * 5 inches without the legs? Surely that was a different species, perhaps something imported? --70.156.90.89 (talk) 00:51, 14 October 2008 (UTC)

Misdirection redirection
The species epithet of this spider should not redirect to a common name. The species epithet is the only clear, scientific, unambiguous designation for any plant or animal, and should be used as the definitive article title. Any an all "common" names should redirect to the scientific taxon.

The lead sentence of any species account should take note of and provide disambiguation of any common names. This sentence should be clear and direct and to the point. Most people should reach the articles on species' epithets by redirect after researching common names, an explanation of their redirect to (perhaps) unfamiliar territory is in order.

Common names are notoriously variable and, well, uncommon. They are almost always local, vernacular, or colloquial expressions for certain plants or animals which others, unfamiliar with the term, will reject outright as unacceptable, if only due to their unfamiliarity. These common names are ancillary to the scientific taxon and morphology of any flora or fauna, and should not be treated as the primary designator as such. (In my humble opinion). Nickrz 15:35, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

I have one in between two of my shrubs off my front porch. I wanted to learn as much about her as possible. I say her because her body is approximately 1 1/2 inches and her legs span as long as my palm. Something I noticed when I was feeling of the longest strand of her web, she would rock her web feriously. Is this usual behavior?? -K.Klein —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.191.47.143 (talk) 00:12, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

o my gosh
A few weeks ago I went to the beach and saw the biggest spider I've ever seen on the edge of Williamsburg and Jamestown. I was bending down and I didn't see it at first but then I got up and I nearly jumped out my skin. I know the legs were as long as my middle finger. There were little kids running around and I didnt know whether that spider was venomous or not. So I intended on killing it with ant spray but I don't think I did. Later, I came home and searched for it on the internet and it was a Argiope aurantia they're harmless to humans. I didn't know that. Thanks for the insite on this website!!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.247.21.109 (talk) 17:42, 3 September 2009 (UTC)

2 feet?
Really? This spider's abdomen can reach 2 feet in diameter? Did someone mean inches? And that's still rather large... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.187.168.247 (talk) 15:24, 28 September 2013 (UTC)


 * It's the web that's 2 feet not the abdomen. Dger (talk) 23:59, 23 October 2013 (UTC)


 * I once had a humongous garden spider hang out on the side of my garage. The biggest one I had ever saw. It was around the size of a small plate and its web covered the whole side of the garage. It eventually died or ran off, but I'll never forget just how big that thing was. And yes it was this garden spider. Same markings legs and everything. --AVeryWiseWolfy (talk) 13:55, 18 May 2018 (UTC)

Photo ?
enjoyed learning about her from Wiki. i watched her all summer, she was big and beautiful... sorry to learn she died this Fall :( May i submit a photo i took of her egg sac ? --Donnap27 (talk) 18:56, 23 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Usually, a photo can be added if it supplements the article and no similar picture is already there. Dger (talk) 00:00, 24 October 2013 (UTC)


 * thank you, but i don't see how to add my photo..sorry, can you help me? Donnap27 (talk) 19:05, 24 October 2013 (UTC)

Two more common names
I would like to add two more common names: In upstate, NY we also called this spider an "Artist Spider" due to the web design. Also, this spider is commonly known as the "Banana Spider" in the state of Florida due to it's yellow and black colors. RandomStan (talk) 10:27, 14 October 2023 (UTC)