Garden Spider: Argiope sp.

The photo above shows an adult Argiope trying to manage its next meal, a pair of dragonflies that were flying tandem (it's mating season) and flew into the spider's web. Photographed in wetlands along the Willard Springs Trail in Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge........August 17, 2007.

The photo above shows what appears to be a young garden spider (Argiope sp.) on its web strung across an open area in wetlands alongside the Willard Springs Foot Trail in Conboy Lake NWR........July 2, 2007. This infividual is probably at most 2 cm in length, although it could well grow to double or triple that size by late season.

The photo above shows an Argiope waiting for its dinner to stop struggling (and to digest). Photographed in wetlands along the Willard Springs Trail in Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge........August 17, 2007.

The photo at left shows an Argiope waiting for its dinner to stop struggling (and to digest). Photographed in wetlands along the Willard Springs Trail in Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge........September 8, 2007. The photo at right shows a garden spider as seen in wetlands along the Willard Springs Trail in Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge........September 17, 2017.

An Argiope suspended on a web in vernally moist wetlands north of Lakeside Road in Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge...........August 3, 2014.