Argiope trifasciata (banded garden spider) is a species of spider found around the world. It can be found in certain areas of Europe, namely the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands, and Madeira. The similar looking Argiope bruennichi is common in the Azores. Considered a pest in some areas, they typically begin to appear during autumn from early September to late October as temperatures start dropping. Their webs can reach a diameter of about 60 cm. The length of the web depends on the size of the spider, capable of reaching a total length of 2 meters.