About Argiope flavipalpis (Lucas, 1858)
Argiope flavipalpis is a species of spider in the family Araneidae. It is commonly called the banded argiope spider, and is found in Africa and Yemen. This species is distributed across Central, East, and Southern Africa, as well as Cape Verde Island. In South Africa, it has been recorded in three provinces, at elevations between 47 and 1,077 meters above sea level. Argiope flavipalpis builds orb webs in open grasslands and gardens. Webs are typically positioned low down in shrubby vegetation that is sturdy enough to support the web's weight. The spider hangs head-down at the center of its web throughout the day. Observations from Durban show that this species spins a new web every day, and the shape of the web's stabilimentum changes daily. The spider has been observed moving very quickly from the front to the back of its web through a small opening. It lives in both Forest and Savanna biomes.
