Silver argiope (Argiope argentata)
The silver argiope is a spider in the family Araneidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 1,145 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 3 states, most of all California (758), Texas (235) and Florida (152). Its observation records peak in September.
Argiope argentata, commonly known as the silver argiope or silver garden spider due to the silvery color of its cephalothorax, is a member of the orb-weaver spider family Araneidae. This species resides in arid and warm environments in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and widely across South America. In the United States, it is found at least in Southern California, Florida, Arizona, and Texas.
From Wikipedia: Argiope argentata, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the silver argiope poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the silver argiope (family Araneidae) has venom for its prey, but it is not a widow or recluse, the two U.S. groups whose bites need medical attention.
Which states have the silver argiope?
The silver argiope's U.S. record is concentrated: California alone holds 66% of licensed records. It is listed in 3 states in all; the next are Texas (235) and Florida (152).
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 758 | 1.5% | 13th of 309 |
| 2 | Texas | 235 | 0.8% | 20th of 386 |
| 3 | Florida | 152 | 1.2% | 14th of 237 |
When is the silver argiope seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the silver argiope run mostly March through November, peaking in September with 17% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 10% of them.
Season by state
Observation records run through most of the year in Florida and Texas. Each of these states peaks in a different month: January in Florida, September in California and November in Texas.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | April through November | September | 722 |
| Texas | most of the year | November | 235 |
| Florida | most of the year | January | 145 |
Where the silver argiope is recorded in each state
California
California holds 758 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 309 spiders listed there. Its observation records in California run mostly April through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from San Diego County, Los Angeles County and Orange County. Next come Santa Barbara County (53) and Ventura County (18).
Texas
Texas holds 235 licensed records, the 20th most recorded of 386 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in November; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Wilson County and Cameron County. Next come Starr County (13) and McMullen County (5).
Florida
Florida holds 152 licensed records, the 14th most recorded of 237 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in January; most licensed records come from Monroe County, Broward County and Miami-Dade County. Next come Palm Beach County (12) and Martin County (3).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego County | California | 537 | 46.9% |
| 2 | Hidalgo County | Texas | 112 | 9.8% |
| 3 | Los Angeles County | California | 79 | 6.9% |
| 4 | Orange County | California | 63 | 5.5% |
| 5 | Monroe County | Florida | 63 | 5.5% |
| 6 | Broward County | Florida | 54 | 4.7% |
| 7 | Santa Barbara County | California | 53 | 4.6% |
| 8 | Wilson County | Texas | 48 | 4.2% |
| 9 | Cameron County | Texas | 28 | 2.4% |
| 10 | Miami-Dade County | Florida | 20 | 1.7% |
| 11 | Ventura County | California | 18 | 1.6% |
| 12 | Starr County | Texas | 13 | 1.1% |
| 13 | Palm Beach County | Florida | 12 | 1.0% |
| 14 | San Bernardino County | California | 5 | 0.4% |
| 15 | McMullen County | Texas | 5 | 0.4% |
How recent are the silver argiope records?
Most of what is known about the silver argiope is recent: 88% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2021 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1959; the busiest year was 2019, with 156 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 1990s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 2000s | 20 | 1.7% |
| 2010s | 387 | 32.9% |
| 2020s | 768 | 65.3% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 29 counties where the silver argiope is most recorded, 17 are also top counties for the brown widow, more than for any other spider. Venomous species among its neighbors: the brown widow.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Brown widow venomous | 17 |
| Gray wall jumper | 15 |
| Banded garden spider | 14 |
| Green lynx spider | 13 |
| Eriophora edax | 12 |
| Shoreline wolf spider | 11 |
| Striped lynx spider | 11 |
| Dysdera crocata | 10 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other species of the genus Argiope with profiles here: Black-and-yellow argiope, Banded garden spider and Banana spider.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.