floridaarachnids

Banded Garden Spider

Banded Garden Spiders, Argiope trifasciata, are large spiders native to North and South America. They produce webs throughout bushy areas. Females are larger than males who will construct a smaller web next to a female. Prey consists of larger insects such as wasps.
Sometimes, webs are found with designs inside called stabilimenta. Many theories exist as to why stabilimenta are created but researchers have found the designs reduce the amount of prey caught in the web nut decrease potential damage to the web.
Photo credit: Aymee Laurain
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Northern Crab Spider

The Northern crab spider, Mecaphesa asperata, can be found throughout central and north America and the Caribbean. These little spiders use flowers to camouflage themselves and will prey on insects visiting flowers such as aphids, spider mites, moths, aphids, bees, wasps, and flies. Females lay eggs in the folds of some leaves and will guard the eggs by remaining nearby.
Photo credit: Aymee Laurain
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