Wasp spider	Status LU: established. 1st record: 1906.
	Harespelspann	Status Eur.: established.
	Argiope frelon	RA: ISEIA: C3. Harmonia+: n/a
	Wespenspinne	Wikipedia: | Wikispecies: | CABI
	Wespspin	Back to the list of invertebrates

Report the species

→ Report Argiope bruennichi to the National Museum of Natural History.

Brief description

Argiope bruennichi in a pasture near Frisange (14.07.2006)

Like many other members of its genus, Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772) shows striking yellow and black markings on its abdomen. The spider builds a spiral orb web at dawn or dusk, commonly in long grass a little above ground level (Wikipedia contributors 2019a).

Until around 50 years ago, the wasp spider was widespread in southern Europe, and very rarely present in central Europe. Since then the species has greatly enlarged and extended its area. Now it can be found in almost all European countries, as well as in some Asian and North African countries (Wikipedia contributors 2019b). The rapid spread of the species across Europe is generally thought to be facilitated by climate warming.

On sites where this strikingly marked spider occurs, the individual number can be very high. Argiope bruennichi populations might be a certain threat for rare species of their favourite prey and provoke changes in invertebrate communities of conquered sites. However the spider seems to integrate rather well in invaded countries, causing no great damage.

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772) was first documented by Dr Ernest Feltgen on 24 August 1906 in Lintgen (Weinachter 1906; MNHNL 2000-).

Currently, 188 records of the wasp spider are accessible through the MNHNL-mdata portal (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2019).

The species can be considered as widespread in the Grand Duchy.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C3 (2+2+2+2) (Ries et al. 2017: 68).

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Source: https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/112406#toDistributionMaps

Bibliography

• CABI, 2019. Argiope bruennichi. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2020-03-04]
• MNHNL, 2000-. Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772) in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-16]
• MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772) in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-16]
• Ries, C., A. Arendt, C. Braunert, S. Christian, A. Dohet, A. Frantz, G. Geimer, M. Hellers, J. A. Massard, X. Mestdagh, R. Proess, N. Schneider & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2017. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of invertebrates in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 119: 63-70. [PDF 360 KB]
• Weinachter, P., 1906. Comptes Rendus des Séances Fauna 16, 10: 215. [eluxembourgensia]
• Weiss, J., 1992. Die Ecke des Naturbeobachters. Regulus 3/92: 96-97.
• Wikipedia contributors, 2019a. Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772) in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Argiope_bruennichi&oldid=921986406 [accessed 24 October 2019]
• Wikipedia contributors, 2019b. Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772) in Wikipedia, Die freie Enzyklopädie. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wespenspinne&oldid=192274595 [accessed 24 October 2019]