When disturbed while in the hub (center) of their webs, individuals will often exhibit a threat display by vibrating or violently jolting their bodies. This causes the entire web to vibrate or sway thus making them appear larger to potential predators. If the individual does not successfully deter the intruder, he/she will drop to the ground.

Predators include birds, lizards, shrews, sphecid wasps, and other spiders. Overwintering egg sacs are also eaten by birds as well as parasitized by ichneumonid wasps and chloropid flies (Lockley & Young, 1993).

Reference

Lockley, T. and O. Young. 1993. Survivability of overwintering Argiope aurantia (Araneidae) egg cases, with an annotated list of associated arthropods. Journal of Arachnology 21(1): 50-54.