Overview
Wasp spider in Georgia
The wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi), also known in Georgian as Brunich's argiope, is an orb-weaving spider. It is especially easy to recognize in females: the abdomen has bold yellow and black bands, which is why the English name is “wasp spider”. The species is widely distributed in Georgia and is considered native to the local fauna. Caucasus spider data also describe it as a very common species in Georgia. This does not mean that it occurs in equal numbers in every region of the country — local density depends on environment and habitat. The female's body length is about 10–22 mm, while the male is much smaller, about 7–8 mm. These measurements do not include the legs. Argiope has venom and uses it mainly to subdue prey, especially insects. For people, its bite is usually not considered a medically significant danger. Handling the spider is still not recommended. Argiope bruennichi has not been assessed by the IUCN. The species is not included in Georgia's 2014 Red List.
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Gallery
Wasp spider in photos
Photo: Nika Gagloshvili
Photo: Zauri Khachidze
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park ·
Georgia field photo
Photo: Zauri Khachidze
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park ·
Georgia field photo
Photo: Zauri Khachidze
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park ·
Georgia field photo
Photo: Close to wildlife · Facebook
Photo: Close to wildlife · Facebook
Photo: Ramo Gogitidze
Photo: Piet Spaans · Wikimedia Commons
Wageningen, Netherlands ·
Photo: Anamarija Koprivnjak
Photo: Vasiko Beridze
Identification
How to identify Wasp spider
A large orb-weaving spider with bold yellow-and-black cross-bands on the abdomen. A white zigzag band is often visible in the middle of the web. The female is much larger than the male.
The female's body length is about 10–22 mm, while the male is about 7–8 mm. Legs are not included in this measurement. These are general species data.
The female has a silvery, shiny cephalothorax. On the upper side of the abdomen, bold white and yellow cross-bands are visible on a black or dark background, giving the species its characteristic “wasp-like” appearance. The underside of the abdomen is dark, with yellow stripes and spots. The legs are yellowish and have brown rings. The male is much less colourful — mostly silvery-grey or yellowish, with the abdominal bands less clearly visible.
Argiope builds a large orb web, often in grass and fairly close to the ground. A white zigzag band, the stabilimentum, is often visible in the middle of the web. An adult female usually sits in the centre of the web, head down. This is one of the easiest ways to recognize Argiope in the field.
Georgia has another species in the same genus — Argiope lobata. It has pronounced side projections, or lobes, on the abdomen, and its colour is more silvery and spotted. It does not have the bold yellow-and-black “wasp-like” bands typical of Argiope bruennichi. Other orb-weaving spiders, including species of the genus Araneus, often have a cross-shaped or different pattern on the abdomen. Argiope is not a wasp: a spider has eight legs, no wings, and usually sits in its own web.
A separate profile for the lobed argiope (Argiope lobata) is available in this atlas.
Biology
Habitat, diet, behavior, and conservation
Habitat and range
Argiope is often found in low grass and meadows, where the female builds an orb web close to the ground. The species' habitat is especially described as humid meadow vegetation. This is a general species description, not an elevation belt defined for Georgia. In Georgia, records of Argiope bruennichi are known from Tbilisi and Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, Adjara, Guria, Imereti, Samtskhe–Javakheti, Samegrelo, Abkhazia, and the territory of Shida Kartli. Named places include Tbilisi, David Gareja, Telavi, Gurjaani, Sighnaghi, Lagodekhi, Shiraki, Batumi, Kobuleti, Chakvi, Khulo, Ozurgeti, the Kutaisi area, Akhaltsikhe, Aspindza, Poti, Sukhumi, and other localities. On this atlas map, a region is marked only when there is a specific record from its territory. Therefore Racha–Lechkhumi–Kvemo Svaneti and Mtskheta–Mtianeti are not marked on this page. This does not mean that the species definitely does not occur there. Likewise, “widely distributed in Georgia” does not mean that Argiope occurs equally in every habitat and every elevation belt in the country.
Diet
Argiope catches prey in an orb web. Its food is mainly different insects, including wasps, flies, grasshoppers, and other relatively large invertebrates that enter the web. The spider usually wraps captured prey in silk first and then bites it. This is the species' general feeding behaviour. The diet of the Georgian population has not been studied separately, so listing a specific “Georgian menu” would not be correct. Argiope feeds on insects, but it should not be treated as a deliberate “biological control” tool in a garden.
Behavior
By day the female often sits in the centre of the web, head down. A white zigzag band, the stabilimentum, is often visible in the middle of the web. Its exact function is not fully settled; it may be involved in attracting prey, making the web more visible, or making it noticeable to other animals. Adult females become especially conspicuous in the second half of summer. From Georgia, for example, there is a record from 20 July 2006 near David Gareja, although a complete countrywide seasonal activity calendar is not presented on this page. The eggs are placed in a brown, papery-looking sac. The species overwinters in the egg stage, and young spiders emerge in spring. The male is much smaller than the female and often appears near her web during the mating period. The female may eat the male during mating, although this is general species behaviour and not a separately confirmed Georgian observation. There is no need to handle Argiope — it is better to observe it calmly near the web.
Conservation
Argiope bruennichi has not been assessed globally by the IUCN, and its status is NE — Not Evaluated. The Ilia State University biodiversity database assesses the species as LC at national level, although this is not an official state Red List status. Argiope bruennichi is not included in Georgia's 2014 Red List. Among arachnids, that list includes the fen raft spider (Dolomedes plantarius), which has VU — Vulnerable status. In northern Europe, Argiope has expanded its range in recent decades. Genetic studies also treat the Caucasus as one of the important regions of diversity for the species, including on the basis of samples from Georgia. Do not catch wild spiders; leave them in their natural environment.
Yes. Argiope (Argiope bruennichi) is confirmed in Georgia and is considered a native species in the local fauna. This is a country-level assessment and does not mean that it is equally distributed in every region or habitat.
Argiope records are known from Tbilisi, Gamarjveba, David Gareja, Adjara, several places in Kakheti, Guria, Imereti, Samtskhe–Javakheti, Poti, the Abkhaz coast, and the Tskhinvali area. It is especially likely to be seen in grassy places and meadows in summer, when adult females become more conspicuous. Racha–Lechkhumi–Kvemo Svaneti and Mtskheta–Mtianeti are not marked on this page's map because the sources used here do not present specific records from those regions.
The female is easy to recognize by the bold yellow-and-black cross-bands on the abdomen. Its orb web often also has a white zigzag band. The male is much smaller and plainer in colour. In Georgia it can be confused with the lobed argiope (Argiope lobata), but that species has pronounced lobes on the sides of the abdomen and lacks the characteristic yellow-and-black bands.
The female's body length is about 10–22 mm, while the male is about 7–8 mm. Legs are not included in this measurement. These are general species data.
Yes, Argiope has venom, which it uses to subdue prey. For people, its bite is not considered a medically significant danger. Bites are rare and usually cause only a local reaction. Do not handle the spider. If strong or unusual symptoms occur, call 112.
Adult females become especially conspicuous in the second half of summer. A July record is also known from the David Gareja area in Georgia. A complete countrywide seasonal activity calendar is not presented on this page.
The IUCN has not assessed Argiope bruennichi globally. The species is not included in Georgia's 2014 Red List. The Ilia State University biodiversity database assesses it as LC* at national level, although this is not an official state status.
References
Sources
References
Sources
- World Spider Catalog — Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772)
- Nentwig et al. 2026 — Spiders of Europe, Argiope bruennichi
- Otto 2022 — Caucasian Spiders (database version 02.2022)
- Otto 2022 — Georgia country checklist
- Ilia State University — Georgian Biodiversity Database, Argiope bruennichi
- Seropian, Otto & Bulbulashvili 2023 — CaBOL spiders of Georgia, Part I
- Krehenwinkel & Tautz 2013 — Northern range expansion of Argiope bruennichi
- Lüpold et al. 2020 — Argiope bruennichi venom proteotranscriptomics
- Kosyan 2022 — First Argiope records in Armenia
- EUNIS — Argiope bruennichi (IUCN not evaluated)
- საქართველოს მთავრობის დადგენილება №190 (2014) — წითელი ნუსხა
- Wikimedia Commons — female, Monti Sibillini (Andrea Bonifazi, CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Wikimedia Commons — stabilimentum (Emmanuel Douzery, CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Wikimedia Commons — female and male, Brieuil-sur-Chizé (Gllawm, CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Wikimedia Commons — male, Livorno (Lucarelli, CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Wikimedia Commons — pair before mating, Wageningen (Piet Spaans, CC BY-SA 2.5)
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
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