Argiope keyserlingi

(St Andrew’s Cross)

Description

This species is known as the St Andrew’s cross spider because of the structure of the web. The spider builds 1-4 arms of a cross made of silk in a zig-zag pattern. This widespread species can be found clinging to the underside of the web. The female sits in or near the centre and the small male may be found on the periphery. The female can be distinguished by several broad transverse bands on the abdomen together with some rows of white dots.