Arachnids of North Carolina
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Octonoba sinensis...In and around human structures.........
Schizocosa floridana
a wolf spider		............
Latrodectus variolus
Northern black widow		Females are shiny black, brown-black, with possibly a row of red spots on the top of the abdomen along the midline. Two reddish triangles resembling an hourglass are present on the underside of the ab...Dry forest with sheltered or shady locations. .........
Geolycosa pikei
a burrowing wolf spider		Male: dorsal stripe as wide as posterior eye quadrangle behind the posterior lateral eyes, narrows to the cervical groove and is indistinct from there posteriorly; carapace covered with gray pubescenc...Coastal sand dunes, but also away from coast.......[GNR] S3S4...
Trichonephila clavipes
Golden Silk orbweaver		Female has elongated yellow-orange abdomen with white spots and prosoma covered in white hairs. Male orange with black mottling. Legs with orange and black bands....Moist forests.........
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Microhexura montivaga
Spruce-fir Moss Spider		Brownish-yellow to a dark reddish brown. One set of spinnerets very long and curling upward....high-elevation spruce-fir forests; found under moss growing on rocks......Arachnids are not given any protection under state law.G1 S1Federally endangered; endemic to North Carolina and adjacent Tennessee...
Crossopriza lyoni
a cellar spider		Abdomen pointed. Prosoma light gray with dark center line....Mostly synanthropic (lives on, or near, human habitations)..........
Liocranoides coylei...Caves and woodland areas around rock faces.........
Mangora placida
tuftlegged orbweaver		Abdomen is pale with a dark area in the center, widening towards the rear. There are two rows of three black or dark brown spots along the edge of the dark folium on the abdomen. There is usually a ...Low understory vegetation of deciduous forests, fields and tall grasses....Visual observation, sweep netting.......
Theridion glaucescens
a cobweb spider		...forest.........
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Tutelina n sp 2
a jumping spider		Waiting to be described............
Maevia intermedia
a jumping spider		Smaller adult size than other Maevia, mature in spring and early summer. White/yellowish line through AMEs....Likely Sandhills and lower coastal plain in NC.........
Emblyna sublata
a mesh web spider		............
Philodromus praelustris
Canadian crab spider		...Cary, Wake County.........
Maevia undescribed species D
Maevia undescribed species D		To be described by GB EdwardsThis species is dimorphic, and has been found from ~ 3000-4600', mostly on Rhododendron maximum, but recently also on a broad leaved Solidago. Females and juveniles tend to have a black head where the...Most Maevia like shrubs (like rhododendron), tree saplings (eg white oak), and vines (eg grapevine) with large leaves.........
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Hypochilus pococki
A Lampshade Spider		H. pococki has been seperated into four clades, western, central, elk and northeast. See clade accounts for ranges....sheltered rock outcrops in forest; lampshade web ......G4G5 S4...
Theridion frondeum
a cobweb spider		Thick black stripe on carapace...forest understory, forest edge, old field; small web under live leaf.........
Parasteatoda tepidariorum
common house spider		Described by Koch in 1841 as Theridion t., it has also been named Therideum t., and Achearanea t. Its placement in Parasteatoda based on its secondary genital organs (Saaristo, 2006) is considered "controversial" (Eberhard, 2020) by some, and thus may be considered fluid at this writing (Jan 2021). Colors are extremely variable, from black to white and almost everything in between. The abdominal pattern is notably mottled, sometimes appearing reticulated. Males characteristically have reddish le...rock outcrops, buildings, windows, corners of rooms..........
Rhomphaea fictilium
a cobweb spider		............
Strotarchus piscatorius
a longlegged sac spider		...forest; retreat under loose bark.........
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Tetragnatha versicolor
a longjawed orbweaver		...old field (where wet), marsh, along streams.........
Pardosa milvina
a thinlegged wolf spider spider		...forest edge; old field .........
Barronopsis texana
a funnel weaver		Originally described as Agelena texana by Gertsch in 1934, it was moved to Agelenopsis, and most recently to Barronopsis by Lehtinen (1967) who "elevated Barronopsis to genus level and, although he provided no rationale" the genus has been retained (Stocks,2009). Coloration variable, generally dusky gray or tan background with light black mottling, occasionally with reddish or burgundy coloration on abdomen. Carapace coloration also variable, from prominent lo...Temperate pine-hardwood forests and pine-hemlock forests. Exploits human-made structures and landscapes, and frequently abundant in lower latitudes on picnic tables, wooden handrails and fences, and .........
Mimetus puritanus
a pirate spider		...on outside of building; meadow.........
Wamba crispulus............
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Agelenopsis utahana
a grass spider		Agelenopsis utahana has enjoyed a relatively stable taxonomic history since having been originally described as Agelena utahana by Chamberlin & Ivie, 1933. It has remained in Agelenopsis since 1941.This is a yellow to reddish brown species, not as dark as A. naevia (q.v.). Both the sternal "V" mark and the ventral abdominal band are faintly—if at all—indicated. ...deep woods, forest edge; forest floor vegetation or tree stumps; funnel/sheet web.........
Agelenopsis pennsylvanica
a grass spider		Agelenopsis pennsylvanica has enjoyed a relatively stable taxonomic history since having been originally described as Agelena pennsylvanica by C.L. Koch, 1843. It changed names a few times in the 19th Century, but has remained in Agelenopsis since 1941.This is the grayist of our 5 known NC species. The abdomen is often a variegated brown, with a lighter, often rusty-colored central band distinct markings. Has a distinct, dusky "V" shaped sternum mar...old field, meadows, grassy areas, occasionally in open woods and on human structures; funnel/sheet web.........
Agelenopsis naevia
a grass spider		Agelenopsis naevia has a relatively stable taxonomic history, having been originallly described as Agelena naevia by Walckenaer, 1841. It changed names a few times in the 19th Century, but has been stable in Agelenopsis since 1941.This is probably the most common as well as the largest and darkest of our 5 known NC Agelenopsis species. The abdomen is often brown and lacking distinct markings. It also often lacks the "V" shaped ...road, rock outcrops, stone walls open fields, shrubs and bushes; funnel/sheet web.........
Agelenopsis kastoni
a grass spider		Agelenopsis kastoni has a stable taxonomic history, having been described as such by Chamberlin & Ivie, 1941.A. kastoni is grayish in color with a broad dark band on the abdominal venter that my be represented by two dark lines bordering a light area (similar to A. emertoni, q.v.). A "V" shaped mark on its s...mature forest, funnel in low branches; captured in pitfall trap in pine stand with young hardwoods.........
Agelenopsis emertoni
a grass spider		Agelenopsis emertoni has a stable taxonomic history, having been described as such by Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935.A. emertoni is generally yellowish in color and may have a broad dark band on the abdominal venter; if present, it is usually not as dark as on other species--more commonly, it is two thin lines with ...Usually taken in old fields and meadows; funnel/sheet web.........
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Cheiracanthium mildei
a longlegged sac spider		............
Cheiracanthium inclusum
agrarian sac spider		"Cheiracanthium are distinguished from the closely related species of Clubiona by lacking a conspicuous dorsal groove in the midline of the carapace, the lack of a cluster of long curved erect setae a...bog .........
Uloborus glomosus
featherlegged orbweaver		Usually beige, with 4 conspicuous humps on front half of abdomen...forest understory.........
Tetragnatha laboriosa
silver longjawed orbweaver		...old field (where wet), marsh.........
Maevia
Maevia undescribed species B		To be described by GB EdwardsMales with the yellow head and palps. Females have short yellow stripes between the eyes of the front row....Most Maevia like shrubs (like rhododendron), tree saplings (eg white oak), and vines (eg grapevine) with large leaves.........
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Tutelina similis
a jumping spider		Tutelina elegans is very similar, but adult male similis does not have a black tuft of hairs on tibia I, and adult female similis does not have a white basal band around the abdomen.(2) Early instars ............
Geolycosa turricola
a burrowing wolf spider		Patellae I and II beneath, and venter black; distal ends of metatarsi I and II, patellae III and IV, and tibia III dusky beneath?other segments, sternum, coxae, etc. Carapace longer than wide (8.5 mm.........GNR SHNo NC records since the 1930s...
Geolycosa fatiferaChrome; labium darker; patella I beneath marked with dark color distally. All tibiae dark, almost black, below and above metatarsi I-III the same; metatarsus IV light and metatarsi bearing light pubes...Most xerophyllic of all Geolycosa. Found in open dry areas of pine flatwoods with sparse leaf cover and little shade. ......[GNR] SHNo records for this species in North Carolina since before 1938...
Libitioides ornata
Ornate Armored Harvestman		Libitiodes ornatus is one of two species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Kury, 2003), both of which occur in North Carolina A moderately small Armored Harvestman, with a flattened body and somewhat bowed legs, particularly the posterior pair. The body color is fuscous to ferruginous brown. Narrow yellow or whitish lines ar...Corey and Stout (1993) describe L. ornatus as inhabiting pine scrub, pond pine, and pine flatwoods communities in Florida. In North Carolina, it is often found under pine bark or debris on the ...Usually found by flipping over bark or debris...[GNR] S2S3...
Libitioides sayi
Say's Armored Harvestman		Libiotodes sayi is one of two species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Kury, 2003), both of which occur in North Carolina. A moderately small Armored Harvestman, with a flattened body and somewhat bowed legs, particularly the posterior pair. The body color is fuscous to ferruginous brown. Narrow yellow or whitish lines ar...Found under logs and rocks on the ground and under the bark of standing snags. In the Piedmont, observations come primarily from wet to mesic hardwood forests....This species may be found mainly in the spring and fall by searching under logs and boards....Arachnids are not protected under state law, although permits are needed to collect them in State Parks and other public and private nature preserves[GNR] S3S5This species appears to be associated with mesic forests. More information needs to be obtained about its overall distribution, population sizes, and habitat associations before its conservation statu...
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Pelegrina exigua
a jumping spider		...Gates County, Montgomery County.........
Hentzia palmarum
Longjawed jumping spider		...bog, old field.........
Pelegrina proterva
a jumping spider		...bog, old field.........
Pelegrina galathea
peppered jumper		...bog, old field.........
Neoscona arabesca
Arabesque orbweaver		This species' nomenclature has been stable since 1936. Interestingly, Simon erected the genus Neoscona in 1864 when he was only 16 years old, but his mastery of Greek seems to have been rather "shaky" (Look Who's Talking Dept. --dbz): It is relatively clear that he meant "spinning among the reeds," but Neoscona translates literally as "spinning a reed." In 1869, Thorell charitably tried to correct this with the spelling "Neoschoena," but this was rejected by Bonnet (1958) who decided that the original spelling should be retained "even if incorrectly written"—although he agreed with Thorell.

The specific epithet arabesca probably refers to the arabesque style of surface decorations.

...old field, grass bald, forest edge. Most abundant in open areas..........
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Tetragnatha viridis
Green longjawed orbweaver		...Frequently found on living pine needles .........
Larinioides cornutus
Furrow orbweaver		Pronounced lar-i-nee-OY-deez, and presumably named for the ancient Italian town of Larinium, with the suffix "oides" meaning "similar to." Formerly placed in genera Araneus, Nuctenea, and Epeira. Abdomen is a smooth round oval, shiny with few hairs. Can be gray to brown with a dark folium that is darkest at the margins. Sides of abdomen, below the dark folium is pale and unmarked, unlike oth...forests or damp areas especially near bodies of waters such as large lake shores. Can build on buildings, bridges and other structures....Visual observation, beat sheets....This species is common throughout its range and currently has no special conservation status....
Neoscona crucifera
a spotted orbweaver		This species has borne many scientific names since its original description as Epiera crucifera by Lucas in 1898, including E. lentiginosa, E. hentzii, E. domiciliorum, Aranea c., Neoscona benjamina, N. arkansa, N. nebraskensis, N. sacra, N. hentzii, and N. hentzi.

Interestingly, Simon erected the genus Neoscona in 1864 when he was only 16 years old, and his mastery of Greek seems to have been rather "shaky" (Look Who's Talking Dept. --dbz): It is relatively clear that he meant "spinning among the reeds," but Neoscona translates literally as "spinning a reed." In 1869, Thorell charitably tried to correct this with the spelling "Neoschoena," but this was rejected by Bonnet (1958) who decided that the original spelling should be retained "even if incorrectly written"—although he agreed with Thorell.

The specific epithet crucifera references the cross-like markings that sometimes are visible on the opisthosomata of these spiders.

While the marking of N. crucifera can be confused with those of N. domiciliorum, the adult females can readily be distinguished by the former's much longer and distinctly lobed scape. ...disturbed forest, often near buildings.........
Xysticus funestus
a ground crab spider		...Durham.........
Hypochilus pococki - central clade
A Lampshade Spider		............