Argiope bruennichi

Description:

The wasp spider, Argiope bruennichi, is a species of orb-web spider Like many other members of the genus Argiope, (including St Andrew's Cross spiders), it shows striking yellow and black markings on its abdomen.

Habitat:

distributed throughout central Europe, northern Europe, north Africa, parts of Asia and in the Azores archipelago.

Notes:

Argiope bruennichi display a rather large distinction between males and females with males averaging length of approximately 4.5 mm and females averaging 15 mm.[3] The reasons for this large difference has evolutionary and fitness background with regards to mating as well as cannibalism by the females towards the males after copulation.