Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi
The female Wasp Spider, shown above, is large (15mm head/body length) and has attractive yellow and black bands on a white background
with banded legs. The male is significantly smaller (5mm head/body).
She is an orb weaver spider, building a large orb web.
Topside and underside with packaged-up prey; prey looks like a wasp but the body segments seem too large.
The underside has two yellow parallel lines.
The zigzag "signature" is a common feature of Wasp Spiders' webs.
The Wasp Spider ranges from far western Europe to Central Asia. The orangey one
immediately above with less-banded legs was in Kazakhstan, taken by Alexandra Makhnina.
The photos immediately below, of Wasp Spiders mating and the aftermath, were kindly provided by Bob Clark, taken in south London:
He explains: "I take this opportunity to attach a lovely ‘Wasp Spider’ also referred to as
‘Tiger Spider’ Argiope bruennichi which has popped up in greater abundance than I have seen before because of grassy areas
being left uncut. From the internet I see it was introduced c1922 and is confined to southern parts of England; though has been detected toward the Midlands now."
"I had the delight (if it should be that) of watching a much smaller male endeavour mating upon which he was unceremoniously wrapped up and gobbled down by his ‘formidable lover’.
My ‘spider mating’ is not clear as I had to spy the goings-on’ through Mrs Spider’s net curtains (web) which fuzz the image rather. As also Mr. Spider was parcelled up for the missus supper."
"I had the delight (if it should be that) of watching a much smaller male endeavour mating upon which he was unceremoniously wrapped up and gobbled down by his ‘formidable lover’.
My ‘spider mating’ is not clear as I had to spy the goings-on’ through Mrs Spider’s net curtains (web) which fuzz the image rather. As also Mr. Spider was parcelled up for the missus supper."
Wasp Spider with her egg sac - photo also by Bob Clark. Egg sac far bigger than she is.
Links:
Banded Garden Spider and foreign Argiopes