Florida Argiope
Argiope florida
This record describes Argiope florida (species). Recorded family: Araneidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Argiope florida, known generally as the Florida argiope or Florida garden spider, is a species of orb weaver in the family of spiders known as Araneidae. It is found in the United States.
Identification notes
Back half of the abdomen has a pair of longitudinal bands and the sides of the abdomen have tubercles:
Wikipedia reference for Argiope florida: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argiope florida.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
North Carolina to Florida, west to Louisiana. Also Arizona. (Levi, 2004)
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Argiope florida. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.
Ecological role of the group
Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.
Recorded sources for this group: World Spider Catalog, PNAS, Nature, ScienceDirect. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Florida Argiope (9)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Jeff Hollenbeck , cheins , Chuck Entz , Ted Kropiewnicki , kschnei , Mandy Howe
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Argiope
What is Florida Argiope?
Florida Argiope (Argiope florida) is a species in the family Araneidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Florida Argiope?
Back half of the abdomen has a pair of longitudinal bands and the sides of the abdomen have tubercles:
Where is Florida Argiope found?
Range: North Carolina to Florida, west to Louisiana. Also Arizona. (Levi, 2004)