Common Spiders With Yellow & Black Legs

Golden Silk Orb Weaver

• The golden silk orb weaver spider, scientific name Nephila clavipes, is one common spider with black and yellow legs found in North America. This non-threatening spider is between 2 and 4 centimeters long, with a silvery grey colored body. Its legs are often brownish black with yellow bands. These arachnids build large orb-shaped webs, which are so strong they've been known to catch small birds or bats. Yet the common meals of the golden silk orb weaver are usually flies, locusts, moths, cicadas and beetles.

Black and Yellow Argiope

• The black and yellow argiope, or Argiope aurantia, is another non-threatening orb spider. This creature's body is either black or grey, with legs that are black with red or yellow bands. The colorful spider has a short life span, as the female dies right after laying an egg sac. However, each of these egg sacs can contain between 300 and 1,400 eggs. The black and yellow argiope is common in North America, and usually lives in fields or gardens.

Banded Argiope

• The banded argiope spider, also known as the banded garden spider and scientifically named Argiope trifasciata, is a common spider of North America. Females and males both have yellow and white bands across their dark legs and abdomens, although males are much smaller than the females. These orb-weaving spiders create vertical webs, building during both the day and at night. They can be found in dry habitats around North America.

Silver Argiope

• The silver argiope spider, also known as Argiope argentata, is mostly black with yellow and silver spots on its body. Its legs are also blackish brown or yellow, with two bands. The male silver argiope can grow to 4 or 5 millimeters, while the female reaches 12 to 16 millimeters. This non-threatening spider is common in tropical regions North America. It's nicknamed the writing spider because its webs are built by creating a series of Zs or Xs in the center.