Subject: Super cool spider
Geographic location of the bug: Ontario, Canada
Date: 10/05/2017
Time: 12:04 PM EDT
We found this beautiful lady while on a walk- she is pretty striking but looks a little different than our native yellow and black garden spider. Can you confirm the type? I have been googling and those stripes sure look an awful lot like a wasp spider.
How you want your letter signed: JJ
Dear JJ,
This is a Banded Orbweaver, Argiope trifasciata, and it is a different species in the same genus as the Golden Orbweaver, Argiope aurantia. Members of the genus are also called Writing Spiders because of the intricate, often zig-zag stabilimentum that is woven into the web, probably to help camouflage the spider while it waits for prey. It appears that your individual is a double amputee as she is missing two of her front legs.
