About Argiope lobata (Pallas, 1772)
Argiope lobata follows the typical size pattern of species in the Argiope genus: males are small, with a body length of 6 mm, while females are large and distinctive, reaching up to 25 mm in length. The abdomen of this spider is silver, marked with black and red spots, has deep furrows, and features distinctive lobes along its edge. Like other species in the Argiope genus, the large web built by this spider is usually decorated with prominent, zig-zag shaped stabilimenta. The distribution of Argiope lobata ranges from the Mediterranean region to China, and from Myanmar to New Caledonia and northern Australia. In Africa, the species has been recorded from Morocco and Algeria extending to Senegal. In South Africa, it has been found in eight provinces, at elevations between 63 and 1,780 m above sea level. For habitat and ecology, Argiope lobata builds orb webs in open grassland areas and gardens. These webs are usually positioned low in shrubby vegetation that is sturdy enough to support the web's weight. The spider hangs head-down in the center of the web throughout the day. It can be found in Grassland, Succulent Karoo and Savanna biomes.
