Argiope lobata

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Black-Lobed Garden Orb-Web Spider
Argiopespain.jpg
A. lobata from Spain
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. lobata
Binomial name
Argiope lobata
(Pallas, 1772) [1]
Synonyms
  • Aranea lobataPallas, 1772
  • Aranea argenteaGmelin, 1789
  • Aranea sericeaOlivier, 1789
  • Argyope sericeaAudouin, 1826
  • Argyope splendidaAudouin, 1826
  • Argyopes praelautusC. L. Koch, 1838
  • Argyopes impudicusL. Koch, 1867
  • Argiope arcuataSimon, 1884
  • Argiope lobata retractaFranganillo, 1918

Argiope lobata is a species of spider in the family Araneidae. [2] It has a very wide global distribution and is commonly known as the black-lobed garden orb-web spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Argiope lobata occurs from the Mediterranean region to China, from Myanmar to New Caledonia and northern Australia. In Africa, the species is known from Morocco and Algeria to Senegal. In South Africa, the species is known from eight provinces at elevations ranging from 63 to 1,780 m above sea level. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species constructs orb webs in open grassland areas and gardens. The webs are usually placed low in shrubby vegetation sturdy enough to bear their weight. The spider hangs in the hub head-down throughout the day. The species inhabits Grassland, Succulent Karoo and Savanna biomes. [3]

Description

Typical for Argiope species, the male of this species is small (body length 6 mm) but the female is large and spectacular at up to 25 mm in length. The silver abdomen is marked with black and red spots and carries deep furrows and distinctive lobes around the edge. As with other spiders in this genus, the large web is usually decorated with prominent zig-zag stabilimenta.

Conservation

Argiope lobata is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographic distribution. The species is protected in seven protected areas including Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve and Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Pallas in 1772 as Aranea lobata. It was revised by Bjørn in 1997, who synonymized Argiope arcuata and A. lobata retracta with this species. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Pallas, P.S. (1772). Spicilegia zoologica. Tomus 1. Continens quadrupedium, avium, amphibiorum, piscium, insectorum, molluscorum aliorumque marinorum fasciculos decem. Vol. 1. Berolini. pp. 44–50.
  2. ↑ "Argiope lobata (Pallas, 1772)". 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. 36. 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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