Green-pea Spider

Araneus apricus has a wide distribution across Africa, being recorded from São Tomé, Yemen, Socotra, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Eswatini, Tanzania, and South Africa. In South Africa, the species occurs in eight of the nine provinces at altitudes ranging from 7 to 1,556 m above sea level.

This species is commonly found in warmer tropical regions where they construct orb-webs with a retreat to one side. The species occurs in multiple biomes including Grassland, Savanna, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Fynbos, and Thicket biomes, with records from all South African floral biomes except the Succulent Karoo. In South Africa, Araneus apricus has been collected from agricultural areas including avocado orchards, citrus and macadamia orchards, and tomato fields. The species is protected in more than 10 protected areas including Addo Elephant National Park, Kruger National Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve, and Polokwane Nature Reserve.

Araneus apricus is one of the few araneid spiders for which a case study on bite symptoms exists, though no serious medical effects have been documented.