Silver Argiope in Shadow

A spider with long, slender legs is suspended in the center of its web, set against a blurry background of greenery. The intricate web details and the spider's delicate form are captured in sharp focus. Argiope argentata, the silver argiope or silver garden spider due to the silvery color of its cephalothorax, is a member of the orb-weaver spider family Araneidae. This species resides in arid and warm environments in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and widely across South America. In the United States, it is found at least in Southern California, Florida, Arizona, and Texas. Argiope argentata create stabilimenta and a unique zig-zag in its web design, and it utilizes its UV-reflecting silk to attract pollinating species to prey upon.