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St Andrews Cross

St Andrew's Cross Spider

Argiope

During their lifespans these spiders weave varying sizes of cross into their wheel shaped webs. This is the most prominent and complete version I have spotted so far and is unusual

This smaller juvenile female has no cross in her web at all meaning the presence of the cross is not necessary for identification. Most of the webs belonging to these spiders in my garden bear no cross.

More common than the upper version of complete cross is this partial cross

There are a number of theories about the reason these spiders weave a cross into their web. One is that when the spider takes it,s place at the centre with it's legs splayed it looks too big for birds to attack. Another theory is that birds and other large flying creatures may fly through the web if there was no large visual warning'

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