Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Araneidae Members: NC Records

Argiope florida - Silver Argiope, Florida Argiope

Argiope floridaArgiope florida
Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Araneidae                                                                                 
Species Comment: Also called Florida Garden Spider
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bugguide
Comments: The round oval abdomen has only two humps on each side. Color is blackish brown and the dark regions on the back part of the abdomen usually form two parallel dark lines. These dark lines are often marked with yellow. The femora of the legs are orange. The front of the abdomen and the cephalothorax are silvery. The male is proportionately much smaller than female.
Total Length: Large, female total body length 12.5-18.0 mm, male total body length 5.1-6.7 mm.Adult ID: identifiable by photo
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Found in sandhills and likely in southern coast of North Carolina, south to Florida and west to Alabama. Males summer through autumn, females late summer through November.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Argiope florida
Adult phenology:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Found in drier sandier areas than other Argiope.
Observation Methods: Visual observation.
Abundance/Frequency: Uncommon
Prey: Prey items similar to other Argiope and include medium to large flying insects such as flies, bees, grasshoppers, cicadas, katydids, butterflies and beetles.
Behavior: Diurnal. Female sits in center of large web facing downward. The stabilimentum is composed of four short white zizags extending from the points of the paired legs.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Argiope florida - Silver Argiope, Florida Argiope

Photos: 10

Recorded by: Mark Basinger, Jim Petranka, and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-03
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger, Jim Petranka, and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-03
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Becky Elkin, Mark Bassinger and Jim Petranka on 2025-08-02
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Becky Elkin, Mark Bassinger and Jim Petranka on 2025-08-02
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Becky Elkin, Mark Bassinger and Jim Petranka on 2025-08-02
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2019-07-10
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: ASH on 2012-06-26
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: ASH on 2006-08-26
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: ASH on 2006-07-19
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 1994-08-25
Scotland Co.
Comment: