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Animal India - Argiope Aetherea - Orb-web Spider

Argiope aetherea is a large orb-web spider (family Araneidae). Like other species of Argiope, it is commonly known as the St Andrew's Cross spider, due to the characteristic cross-shaped web decorations female spiders often include in their webs. Like most orb-web spiders, this spider shows considerable sexual size dimorphism, with females being many times larger than males. Like almost all other spiders, Argiope are harmless to humans. As is the case with most garden spiders, they eat insects, and they are capable of consuming prey up to twice their size. An Argiope aetherea spider sits in webs waiting to catch prey in a forest at Tehatta, West Bengal, India on 15/11/2023. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#10787049
Date Taken	15 November 2023
Location	N/A
Photographer	Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto
Category	Human Interest
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto

NurPhoto General news Tehatta - India November 15 2023 15th November 2023 Argiope aetherea orb-web spider Araneidae St Andrew's Cross spider web decorations cross-shaped web sexual size dimorphism females larger than males harmless to humans garden spiders insect diet consuming prey Tehatta West Bengal India Soumyabrata Roy NurPhoto forest habitat spider web male spiders female spiders predatory behavior prey capture arachnid entomology ecosystem biodiversity natural predator insect control web structure silk production arthropod nature photography.