Writing Spider, Scribbler, Black and Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia)

Order: Araneae (ah-RAY-nee-ee) (Info) Family: Araneidae (ar-ray-NEE-ih-dee) (Info) Genus: Argiope (ar-JY-oh-pee) (Info) Species: aurantia (aw-RAN-tee-a) (Info) Profile: 25 positives 6 neutrals No negatives Regional... This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions: Bessemer, Alabama Vincent, Alabama Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas Marion, Arkansas Los Angeles, California Sacramento, California Woodland Hills, California Bear, Delaware Ocean View, Delaware Lutz, Florida Oldsmar, Florida Sebring, Florida Braselton, Georgia Cumming, Georgia Decatur, Georgia (2 reports) Rincon, Georgia Silver Creek, Georgia Snellville, Georgia Round Lake, Illinois Greenville, Indiana Jeffersonville, Indiana Ogden, Iowa Wichita, Kansas Benton, Kentucky Erlanger, Kentucky Ewing, Kentucky Hebron, Kentucky Limington, Maine Skowhegan, Maine Galena, Maryland Hagerstown, Maryland Millersville, Maryland Brockton, Massachusetts Hudson, Massachusetts Nantucket, Massachusetts Birch Run, Michigan Cole Camp, Missouri Marlton, New Jersey Binghamton, New York Dansville, New York Himrod, New York Nanuet, New York Smithtown, New York Yonkers, New York Beulaville, North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina Elon College, North Carolina Oxford, North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina Sanford, North Carolina Beachwood, Ohio Fairborn, Ohio Glouster, Ohio Yellow Springs, Ohio Elk City, Oklahoma Gold Hill, Oregon Silverton, Oregon Springfield, Oregon Tualatin, Oregon Cabot, Pennsylvania Everett, Pennsylvania Republic, Pennsylvania Campobello, South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina (2 reports) Conway, South Carolina Seneca, South Carolina Summerville, South Carolina Brentwood, Tennessee Cleveland, Tennessee Friendsville, Tennessee La Follette, Tennessee Mcdonald, Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee Wartburg, Tennessee Bastrop, Texas Bryan, Texas Carrollton, Texas Dallas, Texas Driftwood, Texas Elgin, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Frisco, Texas (2 reports) Grapevine, Texas Kaufman, Texas Lufkin, Texas Nevada, Texas New Caney, Texas Pipe Creek, Texas Shepherd, Texas Spring, Texas Springtown, Texas (2 reports) Tomball, Texas Wharton, Texas Danville, Virginia Lynchburg, Virginia Norfolk, Virginia Roanoke, Virginia Huntington, West Virginia Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Positive melody On Jul 25, 2006, melody from Benton, KY (Zone 7a) wrote: This is a very large and intimidating looking spider, but in reality, it's a great bug catcher, and rarely leaves it's web. The female's body can be nearly 1 1/2" long not counting the legs. The male, who is rarely seen, is much smaller, between 1/4" and 3/8". He is not as brightly colored, and only has one purpose in life. The female spins the large web with the distinctive zig-zag down the middle, and is the one people see in their gardens. While this spider is seen all across the US and southern Canada, it isn't common in the Rocky Mountains and the Canadian Great Basin area. Because of it's large web, that it maintains by eating it each evening and spinning a new one before dawn, people have come to enjoy them in their out of the way garden areas and co-exist with them easily. Positive DawninTx On Jul 26, 2006, DawninTx from Nevada, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: I am always happy to find these spiders in my yard. I have been known to catch grasshoppers and gently toss them into this spider's web. Love the spider, hate the grasshoppers. Positive patp On Jul 26, 2006, patp from Summerville, SC (Zone 8a) wrote: We had 6 writing spider egg sacks overwinter in one of our camelia bushes and looked forward to seeing some adults in the Spring. We're still looking ................ perhaps they were too close to the bird feeders. Oh, DH said he saw little spiders in the bush, along with anoles who probably ate them. Positive Sheila965 On Aug 15, 2006, Sheila965 from Rincon, GA (Zone 8a) wrote: These spiders are among my favorite to watch. Their colorful bodies and creative web designs are amazing. Plus, they move VERY fast. So far, every night, the spider has torn down her web and moved. A male showed up yesterday. ;-) Positive sallyg On Aug 21, 2006, sallyg from Anne Arundel Co., MD (Zone 7a) wrote: Seem very hard to predict whether and where you'll get one here. Had four egg sacks one fall and didn't find one spider the following spring. They have never made us a web across an opening, unlike some huge fat brown ones we usually find around August, in the evenings around the yard. Positive QueenB On Aug 22, 2006, QueenB from Shepherd, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: I have two "sisters" I've been nurturing since this spring, and they've caught many different things in their webs, which they've occasionally moved. They've spent most of their lives in and around the greenhouse, keeping down the bug population without a problem. They've mostly caught Junebugs, which are pretty hard eating for a spider. I found one egg sac so far, but it was after it had already baked in the closed greenhouse. They're both in excellent health and fat as can be! I hope to have a crop of new babies in the spring. Positive deanzgurll On Aug 24, 2006, deanzgurll from Ogden, IA wrote: I have this spider everywhere; from the outside of the house to my veg garden. It seems particularly fond of tomatoe plants and will even eat those big green tomatoe horn worms. My only problem with it is, there are so many I sometimes inadvertently stick my hand in a web. The spider seems unperturbed by this however, and neither climbs toward or away from my interruption of it's web. I have several web sacks too. Positive ourfarm On Sep 3, 2006, ourfarm from Friendsville, TN wrote: I always know fall is either upon us, or nearly so, when the Writing Spiders appear. And, I always seem to have lots of them around the outside of my house. They are awesome! The old wive's tale says your days are numbered if the writing spider ever spells out your name in her web. Or, as I've heard it told, "If the Writing Spider spells your name, you're a dead man!" :-O Neutral Danielle2459 On Sep 5, 2006, Danielle2459 from Yellow Springs, OH wrote: This exact spider last year bit my mother in the back yard. Now today have seen another one and sprayed it down with 409 instantly....being that it was the closest thing to save us... and we have it in baggy now... Thank heavens. I will send in a picture this weekend however both times they have came out from our hosta plants. (Which we have many of... hope not to run into anymore anytime soon!!) We need to find something to keep them away since we have young children. Positive snookybird1986 On Sep 8, 2006, snookybird1986 from Nanuet, NY wrote: This morning my children spotted (charlotte) in her web. I have never seen such a spider in New York. Its amazing! I just afraid it might bite the children. I have taken some pictures and would like to post them. Thank You Marie from NY Neutral claypa On Oct 18, 2006, claypa from West Pottsgrove, PA (Zone 6b) wrote: This is NOT the spider in the book, "Charlotte's Web". Charlotte introduces herself as A. cavaticus, or Araneus cavaticus, a Barn Spider, which is very common in Hancock County, Maine USA, where the book was written and the fair that the book is based on still takes place every Labor Day holiday weekend. It's in Blue Hill Maine, where the author EB White had a home. Sorry, Charlotte was ugly! Neutral blue_cherry On Jun 20, 2007, blue_cherry from Vancouver, BC wrote: Attn Danielle2459 and anyone else who's ever 'terminated' a beneficial bug: There are many beneficial bugs who will react defensively if disturbed in a fashion that makes them feel threatened. The Argiopes are NON-toxic and from what I've read and personally experienced, it's practically unheard of for them to bite. Consider the 'BEE'; if they feel harrassed or threatened, they'll sting---otherwise they just go about their BUZZness. I love watching bees at work--and I love garden spiders--the bigger the better. I frequently go on 'Bug Safaris' to capture the beneficial ones (e.g., spiders, ladybugs, ladybug larvae, etc.) and release them onto the balcony for them to perform their respective jobs. I'm sorry that your mom was bitten, although it's also possible that she got pierced by one of the spines on the Argiope's legs. I think it's a sign of ignorance to willy-nilly exterminate these creatures just because one appears to have defended itself. What a lot of bug-fearing people do with spiders and other crawlies that they abhor is either gently pick them up with a tissue or something and relocate them; or, if you can't abide even a tissue's breadth of distance between yourself and the spider, you can--also using some gentle material or tool (like a wooden spoon or a Qtip, for example)--gently maneuver them into a container of some sort, and then transport them to a location where they can continue to do their thing and you feel unharrassed! It's baaaaad to kill these things for reasons pointed out by many others who added comments here. Also, apropos of children, they should be taught to understand and RESPECT these critters, not to FEAR them. They should be taught to understand that these creatures are fragile, not toys, and that they have their place on our planet, just as we do. Co-existence, tolerance and understanding are some of the key words here. Some of you folks probably think I'm way-over-the-top here, but I can't help it! I'm passionate about educating humans to learn about and coexist with our fellow other-species---particularly the beneficial ones! Neutral JayneP On Jun 26, 2007, JayneP from Tomball, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: The first time I saw this spider, it terrified me! It's web was spun between two trees and I came upon it while I was out horseback riding. It was quite scary to see such a large spider right at eye level when you are on a horse!. I didn't even know what it was, but when I found one on my patio a couple of days ago, I did a web search and found the information and pictures here. Looks like I have a female living on my patio and I am happy to share it with her :) Positive stewie3107 On Jul 31, 2007, stewie3107 from MCKINNEY, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: I have to say that these spiders are a bit intimidating at first but I have really grown accustomed to having them around. I have 1 female that hangs out on the side of my house. She has a nice set up right under the eave of the house. It's fascinating watching her web get bigger and bigger as she does too. Now there is an egg sac that came yesterday. I'm not too sure about it but I will see what mother nature does. Positive pjsposies On Aug 5, 2007, pjsposies from Fort Worth, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: I just saw my first Argiope and it is one of the largest spiders I have ever seen. She is HUGE and beautiful. I grew up around scorpions and tarantulas and I kill nothing without finding out what it is unless it's stalkng me and on the verge of devouring me. I just read that one of the prey of this spider is the grasshopper. I saw a stink bug in her web. I'll be doing a lot of gardening tomorrow and I do believe she will find some treats in her web. My son found a Golden Orb once and when we moved he brought her with us. He would put bugs in her web for her. One day he came in and told me she had eggs. I knew he was fixing to experience "Charlotte's Web" firsthand. He did and was quite sad but I explained they are all a small part of the one he cared for so much. People should not be so quick to run for the poison even if bitten. Do a little research. If you threatened me I would bite you also but I am not detrimental! Positive akitaman1 On Aug 12, 2007, akitaman1 from Bessemer, AL (Zone 7b) wrote: i saw my first writing spiders since moving from north carolina 7 years ago. they have made a home in my tomatoes. and okra patch. i guess i want pick as much of those veggies as i thought i would. just a small scarifice i have to make to enjoy such a wonderful insect. Positive winebee1 On Aug 12, 2007, winebee1 from Frost, TX wrote: We have 2 of these wonderful spiders nesting on our back porch right now. One has laid a sack and we expect the other will do so soon. My husband catches grasshoppers for them, which they love. And we're glad to be rid of as many grasshoppers as we can. We have very few of the "pesky" insects, since these lovely ladies have chosen to live on our porch. We need to learn which insects are beneficial and work with Mother Nature as much as we can. I'm trying to teach my grandchildren to do this, since they will be the ones to inherit whatever is left of this planet earth. People who rampantly destroy what they fear or don't understand will be the first to complain when the world they know goes to hell in a hand basket. Thank you for this informative site. Positive MelisLongIsland On Aug 31, 2007, MelisLongIsland from Smithtown, NY wrote: Hello. I am from Long Island, New York - Smithtown is the name of my town, but many people haven't ever heard of Long Island. We have the great Hamptons! haha... I was mowing my lawn, and I saw this huge thing jump! I thought it was a spider, but figured it couldn't be because of the size. It's large. I wish I could get a good enough picture of it to upload. It's so beautiful. I walked up the block to ask my neighbors, and they had no idea, so I came inside to look it up to make sure it wasn't poisonious. I am the kind of person who doesn't kill nature, and I'm sorry to say that I almost wanted to kill this tiny spider. I just didn't want something venomous around the house with my daughter running about, but that showcases my fear and ignorance. I am gladly putting this little guy/girl in a new special part garden, so that it may be undisturbed from here on in. Thank you for this website. It helped save this spider, and taught me a valuable lesson. Be well! Melissa New York (see, all downstate ny'ers aren't so bad... lol) Positive CritZer0 On Sep 1, 2007, CritZer0 from Dallas, TX wrote: I'm an arachniphobe. Have been for most of my life. Two weeks ago, I joined the Texas Equu Search and Recovery group in their attempt to locate a missing person (my wife's cousin). We were searching pastures and treed creeklines in central Texas (Normangee), and while doing so we repeatedly encountered these spiders hanging from the trees. Scared me silly, honestly, but we kept looking anyway. In the 2 weeks since we've been back in Dallas, I've seen 2 of them...or possibly the same one moved from bushes at the curb to my Dining Room window. I've uploaded her picture. As long as she's on the other side of glass, I can get a good look at her, and I'm happy to let her keep her web near the house, but I can guarantee you that I'm not going to be tending the flower bed beneath her web any time soon. d8'> Neutral CHudnall On Sep 8, 2007, CHudnall from Sebring, FL (Zone 9a) wrote: We have been fortunate in years past, and I hope will be this year too, to have these magical creatures in our yard. Last year I quit counting after 48! They seem to love our Confederate Jasmine bush and the old realty sign post that it is growing around. We were awarded with being able to watch a particular one that always was in the same spot, we watched as she grew from a juvenile still in her circular stabilimentum to adult being courted by not one male but two! She certainly had her web-full of activity as the two males faced off, one on one side of the web feet touching the other one on the other side of the web. It was fascinating to watch. Then one morning after watching all this take place for about 4 days, both males were gone. If you watch them closely, depending on how close you are, we learned that they will start 'thumping' their web, not sure if this is meant to intimidate or to warn, but either way, you know she isn't happy. Positive Druby On Sep 9, 2007, Druby from Memphis, TN wrote: We found this lovely spider about a month ago in our flowerbed next to our front porch. I have been very surprised that she has been there so long. Ours seems to be a little aggressive. When we walk out toward the web, she immeadiately scurries to the upper left edge by a column on our porch, like she is trying to get leverage to jump, but stops. She waits until we go back inside before she returns to the center. It was almost like she could "see" us. The front door is a good ways away from her. I notice when our dog walks by the web, she doesn't move. Earlier this week, I went out to look and she did the same. Later, someone was at my door and we looked at her again and then she started the "bouncing" of her web but didn't scurry to the top. I was so glad to find this site. Thanks for all the information. I will try to get a pic and upload it. I noticed you didn't have one of these in the Memphis, TN area. Now you do! Positive zeemolly On Sep 10, 2007, zeemolly from Woodland Hills, CA wrote: We just discovered this magnificent spider in our backyard in Woodland Hills, California! We all gathered round to admire its dramatic beauty! The zig zag web was immediately noted -- and we took care to check that none of our names were spelled out in her magnificent web! She was as still as can be -- enough so that we got several rather spectacular pictures which I hope to be able to share in due course. Who is the moron who, assured of its benignity, could even think let alone act to harm this wonderful creature? Alas, for us all! 409? Save us! Positive shotgunsally On Sep 10, 2007, shotgunsally from Birch Run, MI wrote: I've noticed that this site doesn't have any information on this spider being in Michigan.....however, we have had two beautiful ones and babies in our bushes since late July and have enjoyed watching them. They haven't moved anywhere, except when my husband accidently moved some of the bushes. One was black and lean, the other was brown and very round......same markings though. I will admit that after 38 years of living in Michigan, I have never seen this spider here before. Positive Jetlagged40 On Sep 11, 2007, Jetlagged40 from Raleigh, NC wrote: When I was a kid in NC some sixty years ago, we called these "Yellow Zippers" because of their color and the writing on their web. Of course they terrified us, but we never killed one nor have I to date. When I see one, it takes me back to my childhood. Neat. Positive blaineb9 On Sep 12, 2007, blaineb9 from Elon College, NC wrote: we have had the spiders the last three years they have grown from one to two and now we have them every where mostly females but this year we have a few males my kids have fell in love with them we feed them and go check on them daily we have gone to saving them when our dog ran though the web of one of them Positive spiderider On Sep 13, 2007, spiderider from Wichita, KS wrote: I am new to blogging (is this blogging?), digital photography and bug watching, among other things. I found this critter while I was mowing my lawn. I took photos (I have others) a couple of days ago with a Kodak LS443, 4MP camera. I was amazed at how detailed the images are. I (OK, the camera!) was just a few inches away and Agatha (yes, I named the spider) was kind enough to sit still for her portrait. The next day it appeared that she was replaced by a smaller version. Are they smaller right after they molt? Do they eat the remains (which I did not find)? Or is this really another spider? I await your replies. Positive rogue_spidey On Sep 15, 2007, rogue_spidey from Jacksonville, NC wrote: I must agree with blue_cherry on this. Nature has been and continues to be a wonderful teacher, not to mention an endless source of wonder. I take every opportunity to teach our daughter (8 years young) about the amazing complexities of nature and to maintain a healthy respect for all life. The writing spider (Argiope Aurantia) we discovered in the garden this morning was proudly displaying her colors perched gently on a dazzling web with a freshly silk spun catch. "Very interesting." I took a few pictures and my daughter was quite excited to simply observe from a close but safe distance. We also discovered two species of geckos in an adjacent plant. Positive Karnie2007 On Sep 22, 2007, Karnie2007 from Omaha, NE wrote: This spider has been reported now being seen in Omaha Nebraska... This spider is HUGE.. I agree with all the others... I captured it.. not knowing what it was.. until I looked it up... I fed it ... being nice and all.. even tho it was sooo HUGE that it didnt look deprived of nutrition... then the daughter and I let it go... what an interesting spider... the way it looked was very intimitating... but we did what nature had intended for us to do.. and let it go back into the garden.... Positive MaxGarcia On Sep 24, 2007, MaxGarcia from Frisco, TX wrote: My Argiope appeared magically on July 4th 2007, I originally wanted to get rid of her but decided to look her up on the web. Turns out she is harmless and even if she bit, her venom is harmless to humans. I was totally amazed and intrigued with this creature's habits and how quickly she grew into a beautiful spider, I think I only saw the male one time and that was it. I've also notice other opportunistic smaller spiders build their webs on hers. Right now she had layed her eggs and her abdoment had decreased in side by 20% She seemed very exhausted and that night she didn't make a new web. The following day she did, she seem to be getting slugish as the fall progresses, I've read alot about them, and how they can live up to 2 years, I was thinking about bringing her inside for the winter and feed her crickets until next spring, but I'm still struggling with the Idea and may be just let nature do it's thing. I just hope one of the babies stay in my back yard so I can enjoy another year of fien viewing this amazing creature. 10/29/07 My spider layed another SAC!!! this one seem a bit sloppier, although big, it seems she wasn't as careful as with the first one. this one is shapped like an egg and she didn't pick the best spot for it. I will post a pic of the whole site. She hasn't spun a web in about two weeks but just sorta keep fixing the one she has currently which looks very bad. ( a sign that she may be on her way out ) More to come... Max, McKinney, TX Neutral asjk359 On Sep 28, 2007, asjk359 from Fairborn, OH wrote: I found a writing spider outside my sons window this evening. I had just told him a few weeks ago that it had been years since I had seen a writing spider. We have enjoyed watching her catch some dinner tonight. Positive carolshafer On Feb 11, 2008, carolshafer from Rockdale, TX wrote: Family and friends have all been informed not to touch these beautiful creatures. Because I live in Rockdale, Texas we are blessed with a multitude of mosquitos and at any given time you can pass these webs and see the "lady" spinning them in her web. All mine have names. The one who lives on the back patio is Crystal and when my husband comes in and tells me he gave Crystal a grasshopper I know exactly what he is talking about.

By melody By melody By Scorpioangel By princessnonie By Sheila965 By Sheila965 By ceejaytown There are a total of 62 photos. Click here to view them all!