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Photo#830559
Id help needed - Argiope spider. - Argiope trifasciata

Id help needed - Argiope spider. - Argiope trifasciata
Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve., Lucas County, Ohio, USA
August 24, 2013
I believe this to be a Banded Argiope ( Argiope trifasciata ). It has a different look from Bandeds I have seen. Is this an immature ? It was cold when this picture was taken - would that influence the color of the spider ? Can this spider be sexed and how is that done ? Thanks in advance for the help.

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Id help needed - Argiope spider. - Argiope trifasciata Id help needed - Argiope spider. - Argiope trifasciata

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Argiope trifasciata
I can't be confident of the gender when they're immature. You can determine gender in adult individuals by examining the pedipalps (appendages near the spider's mouth). They're slender in females and enlarged at the tip on adult and penultimate males - it's often said they look like they're wearing boxing gloves. In most species the males are significantly smaller and often lankier than the females.

 
Spider id.
Thanks for the help. This is the first immature female I have found. It is nice to see a women who is not only not afraid of spiders but also likes them ! Laura may the spiders be with you, Henry.