Argiope aurocincta

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Shield Garden Orb-Web Spider
Argiope aurocincta 246656102.jpg
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Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Argiope
Species:
A. aurocincta
Binomial name
Argiope aurocincta
Pocock, 1898 [1]

Argiope aurocincta is a species of spider in the family Araneidae. [2] It is endemic to Africa and is commonly known as the shield garden orb-web spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Argiope aurocincta has been collected from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. In South Africa, the species is known from six provinces at elevations ranging from 29 to 1,513 m above sea level. [3]

Habitat and ecology

femae in web Argiope aurocincta 107794353.jpg
femae in web

The species constructs orb webs in open grassland areas, woodlands and gardens. The webs are usually placed low in shrubby vegetation, with the spider hanging at the hub head-down throughout the day, usually with an X-shaped stabilimentum. The species inhabits multiple biomes including Forest, Grassland, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Nama Karoo and Savanna. [3]

Description

Conservation

Argiope aurocincta is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in 12 protected areas including Roodeplaatdam Nature Reserve, Ndumu Game Reserve, and Bontebok National Park. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Pocock in 1898 from Kenya. [1] It was revised by Bjørn in 1997 and is known only from the female. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 Pocock, R.I. (1898). "On the scorpions, spiders and solpugas collected by Mr. C. Steuart Betton in British East Africa". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 66 (3): 497–524. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1898.tb03172.x.
  2. ↑ "Argiope aurocincta Pocock, 1898". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N.; Webb, P. (2022). The Araneidae of South Africa . Version 2: part 1 (A-C). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 30. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6326922. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  4. ↑ Bjørn, P.P. (1997). "A taxonomic revision of the African part of the orb-weaving genus Argiope (Araneae: Araneidae)". Entomologica Scandinavica. 28 (2): 199–239. doi:10.1163/187631297X00060.
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