spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata

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MikeHardman

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spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata
« on: October 30, 2011, 07:37:31 AM »
This spider was hanging around by a friend's front door yesterday. It had a sparse web and was hanging upside down, hence showing its underside - as in my photo. It is quite big - about 7cm from toe to toe, as it were. I don't know how it looked from the other side, but I could imagine from its highly patterned underside that the topside (more concealed) was relatively plain and drab.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2011, 08:36:48 AM by Alisdair »
Mike
Geologist by Uni training, IT consultant, Referee for Viola for Botanical Society of the British Isles, commissioned author and photographer on Viola for RHS (Enc. of Perennials, The Garden, The Plantsman).
I garden near Polis, Cyprus, 100m alt., on marl, but have gardened mainly in S.England

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oron peri

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Re: spider ID please
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2011, 07:55:56 AM »
Argiope lobata,
A common species around the Mediterranean.
Garden Designer, Bulb man, Botanical tours guide.
Living and gardening in Tivon, Lower Galilee region, North Israel.
Min temp 5c Max 42c, around 450mm rain.

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MikeHardman

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Re: spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2011, 06:04:48 AM »
Thank you, Oron.
Mike
Geologist by Uni training, IT consultant, Referee for Viola for Botanical Society of the British Isles, commissioned author and photographer on Viola for RHS (Enc. of Perennials, The Garden, The Plantsman).
I garden near Polis, Cyprus, 100m alt., on marl, but have gardened mainly in S.England

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John J

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Re: spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2012, 09:38:11 AM »
Snapped in the garden this morning. No need to ask what it is as Oron has already identified it earlier. I suspect it is one of the culprits who lays booby traps every night so that unsuspecting early-morning garden wanderers like me can walk into them as they enjoy the first cup of tea of the day.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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MikeHardman

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Re: spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2012, 01:48:47 PM »
We've had one in our garden, too; I've been watching it get bigger and bigger over the last couple of weeks. It is now about as fat as my little finger. It has also begun including the zigzag streamer in its web now. I don't know quite what the intention of that is, but I could imagine insects might try to avoid it an get caught in the (near-invisible) web either side of it; I could also imagine it as a slip-rope - to allow the spider to quickly haul-in its prey; other ideas likely. If anybody actually knows, do tell!
Mike
Geologist by Uni training, IT consultant, Referee for Viola for Botanical Society of the British Isles, commissioned author and photographer on Viola for RHS (Enc. of Perennials, The Garden, The Plantsman).
I garden near Polis, Cyprus, 100m alt., on marl, but have gardened mainly in S.England

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oron peri

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Re: spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata
« Reply #5 on: July 08, 2012, 05:24:13 PM »
Mike, this zigzag is called Stabilimenta,
there are some speculations regarding  its function, but not a good scientific answer.
Garden Designer, Bulb man, Botanical tours guide.
Living and gardening in Tivon, Lower Galilee region, North Israel.
Min temp 5c Max 42c, around 450mm rain.

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MikeHardman

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Re: spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2012, 07:46:05 AM »
Thanks Oron - always good to have a name for something;
and somewhat nice to know we still have to speculate on its function
Mike
Geologist by Uni training, IT consultant, Referee for Viola for Botanical Society of the British Isles, commissioned author and photographer on Viola for RHS (Enc. of Perennials, The Garden, The Plantsman).
I garden near Polis, Cyprus, 100m alt., on marl, but have gardened mainly in S.England

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John J

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Re: spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2014, 01:28:15 PM »
Saw this guy hanging around last night and it was still there this morning. First time I've seen one standing guard over a bunch of packages though.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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MikeHardman

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Re: spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2014, 01:39:57 PM »
4 packets - you beat me by one!

I've been keeping half an eye on my ever-growing big Daddy of an Argiope. He's been in the same spot, web strung between two lavender bushes, for weeks now. I reckon if a Tarantula got ensnared in it, he'd become a monster food package - and I dread to think what size big Daddy would become.

Serious little question occurs to me...
Spiders can move around their own webs without getting stuck, but can they get stuck in the web of a different species?
Mike
Geologist by Uni training, IT consultant, Referee for Viola for Botanical Society of the British Isles, commissioned author and photographer on Viola for RHS (Enc. of Perennials, The Garden, The Plantsman).
I garden near Polis, Cyprus, 100m alt., on marl, but have gardened mainly in S.England

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John J

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Re: spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2015, 09:31:58 AM »
Haven't seen one of these guys around for a while but almost face to face with this character on today's early morning stroll.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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John J

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Re: spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata
« Reply #10 on: August 22, 2017, 02:13:26 PM »
The character in photo 1 is a very common sight but the web in photo 2 is a new one on me. There didn't appear to be anyone at home and I'm rather concerned about who the owner might be and whether or not they present a problem.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

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JTh

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Re: spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2017, 09:25:00 PM »
I see a lot of small 'babies' in photo 2, you just have to wait and see when they are grown up.

Retired veterinary surgeon by training with a PhD in parasitology,  but worked as a virologist since 1992.
Member of the MGS  since 2004. Gardening in Oslo and to a limited extent in Halkidiki, Greece.

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John J

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Re: spider IDd by Oron as Argiope lobata
« Reply #12 on: October 12, 2017, 10:15:07 AM »
Not sure if this is the same character as the one shown in photo from August but the web is in a similar area. It also seems to have acquired a similar package.
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)