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Argiope keyserlingi Karsch, 1878 St Andrews Cross

A common medium-to-large orb weaver found in eastern Australia in rainforest margins, open forest, heathland, houses and gardens. Zig-zag ribbons of bluish-white silk form a full or partial cross (stabilimentum) through the centre of the orb web. This cross gives the spider Its common name. Females have a silvery carapace and a silver, yellow, red and black banded upper abdomen with two longitudinal yellow stripes below. At rest, legs are held in pairs. The mostly brown coloured males are much smaller. There is some variation in the colour of the males. Prey includes flies, moths, butterflies, bugs and bees. Responds to disturbance by dropping from the web or shaking it vigorously. Named by Friedrich Karsch in 1878 from the Greek Argiope, a nymph. The species name is in honour of the German arachnologist Keyserling. ♀ 16mm ♂ 5mm.

Adult female in web with stabilimentum

St Andrews Cross Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female from Bribie Island with partial stabilimentum


Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Adult female in sunlight


This photograph of a particularly colourful St Andrews Cross was taken in a garden in Riaweena Street, The Gap, Brisbane.

St Andrews Cross Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Adult female


Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Adult female (undersides)


St Andrews Cross Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Adult female on web


St Andrews Cross Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Adult female on foliage


St Andrews Cross Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Juvenile female just starting to colour up


St Andrews Cross Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male from above, Strathpine, GJA5704


Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Dr Greg Anderson

Adult male from above


Males are much smaller and with sombre colours, mostly dark brown, sometimes reddish, sometimes yellow. The shape of the cephalothorax is much the same as the female's, but the abdomen is smaller and roughly triangular. The habit of pairing the legs and the white "armbands" on the forelegs are shared by both the male and the female.

St Andrews Cross Argiope keyserlingi male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Adult male from front, showing modified palps

The silvery hair on the cephalothorax isn't catching the light in this photo, making the cephalothorax look plain, smooth brown. The duller colours of males no doubt allow it to camouflage more easily.

St Andrews Cross Argiope keyserlingi male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Adult male from side showing palps


Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male adult Flinders Beach, North Stradbroke Island


Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male palps Flinders Beach, North Stradbroke Island


Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male palps Flinders Beach, North Stradbroke Island


Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Penultimate male, bright yellow abdomen


Argiope keyserlingi
Body length 4mm. Photo: Robert Whyte

Penultimate male, facing, underneath


Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Penultimate male, facing, eyes and palps


Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Juvenile male side view


This spider 3.6mm body length was in the vicinity of some young female Argiope keyserlingi, and though it hasn't gained the adult shape and colouring probably is the same species.

Argiope spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Juvenile male from above


Argiope spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Sub-adult male, side on


Not entirely having achieved the adult shape and colouration this sub adult male body length about 6mm is closer to adult than the smaller specimen above. It appears that the abdomen becomes relatively smaller and the colours darken and simplify. The sub adults can be larger than the adults.

Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Sub-adult male from above


Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Sub-adult male face on


Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

Very small juvenile female body length 2mm from above


A small juvenile, pale, suggesting it has just moulted. It has constructed a small, rudimentary web.

Argiope spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Very small juvenile female body length 2mm from below


No obvious epigynum on this female, suggesting it is not mature, otherwise all indications are that it is a very small juvenile of Argiope keyserlingi.

Argiope spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Juvenile female with first stage stabilimentum


The shape of the stabilimentum changes with the age of the spider. First it starts with a circular white web in the center. Later it changes to a cross and when the spider is full-grown only a small zig-zag remains.

St Andrews Cross Argiope keyserlingi
Photo: Robert Whyte

 
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