Long tailed orb-weaving spider - Argiope protensa

Sorry about the flare in the bottom left corner.

comments (5)

Ruth Spigelman

Lion

I love the unique abdomen on these. Still can't decide whether mine I found is A. protensa or A. syrmatica, they are so very similar. Posted 3 years ago
1. Ernst
  
  Lion
  
  Ruth I searched both A. syrmatica and A protensa. due to them supposedly being very similar. As I found nothing really to do a comparison I put the images onto INaturalist. and decided for now to go with the findings . I think that your upload of A. protensa is correct as well as there seems to be quite a bit of variability in this species. By the way the spider I uploaded was approximately 12 to 15 mm in body length. Posted 3 years ago, modified 3 years ago
2. 1. Ruth Spigelman
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks very much for that feedback! Posted 3 years ago
  2. Ruth Spigelman
    
    Lion
    
    Ernst, I asked the advice of an arachnologist I happen to know on Facebook. He told me that A. protensa and A. syrmatica are indeed synonyms and interchangeable. The only similar species in Australia is A. probata, but they are much smaller and have a very distinctive pattern. That's a real help. Posted 3 years ago