This species has been found to have DNA no different to that of Argiope species and may get a name change (unpublished study, pers. comm. Framenau 2009). It is a small spider, more often with lighter and brighter abdominal banding, this one being very dark all over. It builds a small orb web low to the ground and is found all over Australia but rarely noticed. Small star shaped egg sacs are found in the vegetation nearby in February March (Mascord 1980). Like many Argiope spiders it tends to play dead when captured or quickly scampers away.
Female
Female 9mm (larger than Mascord recorded) male 7mm in low grass, smartweed, Lomandra and Carex just upstream of Walton Bridge.
Photo: Robert Whyte
Female, another specimen
Male side on
Photo: Robert Whyte
Male facing
This male looks mature.
Sub-adult male
Photo: Robert Whyte
