Editing Argiope (spider) (section)

==Common names==
[[File:Argiope sp.jpg|thumb|''Argiope'' sp. blending in to elaborate stabilimentum in [[Tanzania]]]]

[[File:Writing Spider catches butterfly.jpg|thumb|upright|Writing spider eating a [[swallowtail butterfly]] in [[Holly Springs, North Carolina]]]]

[[File:Argiope-IndependenceMO.jpg|thumb|upright|An argiope's web with stabilimentum in [[Independence, Missouri]]]]

[[File:Argiope and milkweedBug.webm|thumb|thumbtime=5|The [[Argiope trifasciata|banded orb weaving spider]] wraps up a [[Oncopeltus fasciatus|large milkweed bug]] and subsequently cuts it from its web. This illustrates the protection the bug gained from feeding on [[Asclepias|milkweed]].]]

''[[Argiope bruennichi]]'' is commonly known as the '''wasp spider'''.  In [[Australia]], ''[[Argiope keyserlingi]]'' and ''[[Argiope aetherea]]'' are known as '''St Andrew's cross spiders''', for their habit of resting in the [[spider web|web]] with paired legs outstretched in the shape of an X and mirroring the large white web decoration (the [[Saltire|cross of St. Andrew]]<ref name=Field/> having the same form).  This white zigzag in the centre of its web is called the ''[[Web decorations|stabilimentum]]'' or web decoration.<ref name=Field />

In North America, ''[[Argiope aurantia]]'' is commonly known as the '''black and yellow garden spider''', '''zipper spider''', '''corn spider''', or '''writing spider''', because of the similarity of the web stabilimenta to writing.

The [[East Asia]]n species ''Argiope amoena'' is known in [[Japan]] as ''kogane-gumo''.  In the [[Philippines]], they are known as ''gagambang ekis'' ("X spider"), and ''gagambang pari'' ("priest spider", due to the spider's body resembling a priest's head with a [[mitre]]).