Argiope bruenicchi (Scopoli, 1772)

We're adding an abstract twist to our 'Wasp' theme...

Onwards!

 - Eukaryota
   - Animalia
     - Eumetazoa
       - Bilateralia
         - Nephrozoa - see also Thelotornis capensis, Lygodactylus capensis, Chalcophaps indica, Sterna hirundo, Ardea goliath, Trachylepis varia and Hipposideros vittatus.
           - Protostomia
             - Ecdysozoa
               - Arthropoda - see also Ligia oceanica, Enallagma cyathigerum, Pseudagrion hageni, Sybilla, Stictogryllacris punctata, Cyathosternum prehensile, Pephricus, Anoplocnemis curvipes, Hagenomyia tristis, Zebronia phenice, Laelia robusta, Anthocharis cardamines, Acada biseriata, Panorpa germanica, Megistocera filipes, Diasemopsis meigenii, Episyrphus balteatus, Helophus pendulus, Demetrias atricapillus, Anthia fornasinii, Melolontha melolontha, Otiorhynchus atroapterus, Malachius bipustulatus, Senaspis haemorrhoa, Astata tropicalis, Synagris proserpina  and Vespula germanica.
                 - Chelicerata
                   - Arachnida - see also Dicranopalpus ramosus
                     - Micrura
                       - Megoperculata
                         - Araneae
                           - Opisthothelae
                             - Araneomorphae
                               - Neocribellatae
                                 - Araneoclada
                                   - Entelegynae - see also Hyllus argyrotoxus
                                     - Araneoidea - see also Enoplognatha ovata
                                       - Araneidae
                                         - Argiopinae

Argiope bruenicchi

(Scopoli, 1772)

As orb-weavers in general have small heads and small eyes, they might consider perching high in vegetation, or perhaps face up, to encourage a more appealing angle, but no, the Wasp Spider (A.K.A. Bruenicch's Argiope) - did you see the link to my 'wasp day'? -  builds its web around a foot off the ground in rough grassland, and sits in the middle looking straight at the ground.

It is a fairly specialist predator of grasshoppers, so possibly it has its reasons. 

As a recent arrival in the UK, having spread here more-or-less naturally from Europe, it is also one of our most recogniseable spiders: 

 It's still limited to the south of the island, but continues a spread north where rough (read - uncultivated and unmowed) grassland is available. It's also one of the few spiders native to the UK that I wouldn't confidently assure you is completely harmless, although - with its large size and bright colours, coupled with it's requirement for a relatively undisturbed habitat, it's rather unlikely that you'll come into accidental contact with it anytime soon.

That's all, folks!