| Argiope ocula | |
|---|---|
 | |
| female from Taiwan | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Genus: | Argiope |
| Species: | A. ocula |
| Binomial name | |
| Argiope ocula Fox, 1938 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Argiope ocula is a species of orb-weaver spider in the genus Argiope . It was first described by Irving Fox in 1938. [1] The species is found in East Asia, including China, Taiwan, and Japan. [1]
The species was originally described as Argiope ocula by Fox in 1938. [2] In 1967, Yaginuma described what he believed to be a new species, Argiope ohsumiensis, from Japan. [3] However, in 1983, Levi determined that A. ohsumiensis was actually a junior synonym of A. ocula, establishing the current taxonomic understanding. [4]
A. ocula is distributed across East Asia, with confirmed records from China, Taiwan, and Japan (particularly southern Kyushu and the Satsunan Islands). [1] [5]
Argiope ocula exhibits significant sexual dimorphism, with females being considerably larger than males. [5]
Females reach approximately 20 mm in body length. The carapace is brown with white hairs. The abdomen is distinctively elongated and narrow, with a yellowish-brown dorsal surface featuring yellow transverse lines at the front and characteristic yellow and black crescent-shaped markings on the sides. This elongated abdominal shape and distinctive coloration pattern readily distinguish females of this species from other Argiope species. [5]
Males are much smaller, reaching about 7 mm in body length. The carapace is brown with two light-colored longitudinal stripes. The abdomen is also elongated, with a light brown dorsal surface and three black spots toward the posterior end. The elongated abdomen helps distinguish males from most other Argiope species, except for Argiope boesenbergi . However, males can be differentiated from A. boesenbergi by differences in the structure of the median apophysis and embolus of the pedipalps. [5]