Spider wasp with yellow stripes on the back

A wasp spider, aka Argiope Bruennichi (Argiope bruennichi) - an animal with a bright color, reminiscent of a bee or wasp. The most vibrant species live in countries with a warm climate - America, Asia, Japan, India, China. Some species inhabit regions of Europe. There is a spider of the argiope Brunnich in Russia, Kazakhstan, in Ukraine. Lives in the wild, but due to its bright color, the animal is often bred as a pet.

origin of name

The spider with yellow stripes on its back is known worldwide. The Latin name Argiope bruennichi was assigned in honor of a zoologist from Denmark, who described a unique species. Name of the scientist Morten Trane Brunnich. Other names appeared due to an unusual external image, resemblance to a wasp, a bee. In several countries, the spider is called brindlezebra.

Description of appearance

Argiope Brunnich is a typical representative of arachnids with a convex abdomen, cephalothorax. Parts of the body are connected by a thin jumper. The cephalothorax includes the stomach, brain, and poisonous glands. The body up to 2.5 cm in size is covered with a dense shell. Together with the legs, the size of the female wasp spider is 4 cm.

4 pairs of legs are attached to the cephalothorax. The forelimbs play the role of the jaws, hold the victim during a bite, in the process of feeding. The legs are the main organ of touch, smell. There are 6 eyes on the head, but spider vision weak. The approach of the victim or enemy of the spider-wasp determines the vibration of the air, the web.

On a note!

The female's color is bright, catchy - the spider is yellow-black, striped. Characteristic patterns are present on the abdomen, legs. The male differs from the females in size, body shape - more elongated, as well as coloring. Male argiope grows no more than 7 mm, yellow-brown color.

Young tiger spider yellow with black spots at the end of the abdomen, on the legs. During the growing up period, they molt up to 5 times, gradually increase in size, acquire a characteristic striped color. In males, the cover just darkens. A photo of a wasp spider can be seen below. It also provides an opportunity to compare how a female, male, looks.

Photo and description of the web

Argiop with a yellow abdomen weaves a complex web, which consists of vertical, horizontal threads. A spider sits in the center, waiting for the victim. Making nets the predator practices at night. It takes no more than an hour. A web is placed between plants at a height of not more than 30 cm from the surface of the earth.

Interesting!

The web shimmers in the sun, attracting the attention of grasshoppers, locusts, fliesother insects. Argiope networks are used to scare away enemies. The big spider begins to shake the web. With fluctuations, the brilliance from sunlight increases, which confuses the enemies.

Where dwells

A bee-like wasp spider is found all over the world. Ideal conditions are humid air, high temperature, long summers. The female lives 1 year, the male dies much earlier. Argiopes live on almost all continents. For settlement choose a sunny meadow in the forest, at the edge of the meadow, meadows, fields. Often settle down in gardens, in kitchen gardens.

A zebra spider sits motionless on its web in the very center, spreading its legs with the letter “X”.If necessary, it develops new territories at night, moving through the air on its cobweb.

Nutrition

A yellow striped wasp-like spider eats insects that fall into its hunting nets. Grasshoppers, crickets, locusts, flies are the main diet. The victim entangled in the web in a few seconds. Argiop feels the vibrations of the threads, sneaks to the prey. It bites, introduces poison, paralyzes the insect. Then he injects saliva, which dilutes the internal organs of the victim, envelops him with cobwebs, and leaves for some time. It sucks out all the juices, leaving a chitinous cover.

Interesting!

A spider as a wasp is not of interest to birds, large insects, other species of arachnids. He has practically no natural enemies. Argiop scares off his appearance - stripes on his back. For males, the main enemy is the female. She eats it right after fertilization.

Breeding

A tiger spider with the coloring of a wasp during the summer gives only one generation of cubs, in tropical countries there can be more. At one time, a female with a yellow booty lays up to 600 eggs. Initially, a cocoon weaves from a web, places inside the egg. Places a bag near his hunting nets.

After 2 weeks, a large generation of spiders appears, which are spreading in different directions. Before reaching puberty, they have to go through 5 links. Each time the young argiop increases in size, acquires a characteristic color.

Wasp spider poisonous or not

Arthropod has poisonous glands in which a toxic substance is produced. When the victim enters the body, it causes muscle spasm, immobilization. Poisonous brunnich does not differ in aggressive disposition, does not attack unnecessarily. For a person, her presence nearby is not dangerous. However, if an argiop feels a threat to his own life, the attack and spider bite will follow.

On a note!

What is the danger of a spider bite with a wasp color - a local reaction on the skin. Swelling, redness, pain appears. Argiope attacks are harder for small children, people with weakened immune systems. If you are prone to allergies, breathing difficulties may occur. In most cases, the symptomatology disappears on its own, does not require special treatment.

Due to the unusual color, the wasp spider is kept at home as pets. They live in specially equipped aquariums, feed on insects. Feed should be every other day. Spiders live in an apartment up to 1.5 years.