Arachnids of North Carolina
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Argiope aurantia
yellow garden spider		The genus name Argiope means "silver-face", while the specific epithet aurantia means "gilded"Abdomen long oval, with series of yellowish or pale spots on a black abdomen. The cephalothorax is covered with reflective white hairs. The legs have femora that are pale orange at the base and dark...garden areas, old field, marshes, wetlands, bogs, lake and pond edges, roadside ditches, human habitations....Visual observation.......
Micrathena sagittata
Arrowshaped Micrathena		"Micrathena": from the Greek adjective for "small" and the name of the goddess Athena, patroness of domestic arts and handicrafts, especially spinning and weaving; "sagitatta" from Latin for "arrow."Readily identifiable by its "arrowhead" appearance....forest edge.........
Micrathena mitrata
white micrathena		Originally described by Hentz as Epeira mitrata in 1850, it was later transferred to the genus Micrathena, which had been erected in 1833 by Sundevall. "Micrathena": from the Greek adjective for "small" and the name of the goddess Athena, patroness of domestic arts and handicrafts, especially spinning and weaving; "mitrata" from the Latin for "cap" or "turban."White abdomen with dark markings and having 4 points (usually black) on posterior end....low forest understory, particularly in humid areas.........
Micrathena gracilis
spined Micrathena		"Micrathena": from the Greek adjective for "small" and the name of the goddess Athena, patroness of domestic arts and handicrafts, especially spinning and weaving; "gracilis" being Latin for "slender."...forest .........
Verrucosa arenata
an orb weaver		First described in 1833 as Epeira mexicana by Lucas, that name was sunk as nomen oblitum in 1976, so it took the specific epithet from Walckenaer in 1841, when he described it as E. arenata. It was moved to the genus Verrucosa by McCook in 1888.Quite readily identified by the triangular abdominal marking, which can be white, yellow, or even pink. There are tubercles at each anterior corner, and several smaller ones near the posterior end of ...forest edge, forest.........
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Neriene radiata
Filmy dome spider		Wider described this species in 1834 as Linyphia marginata, and it stayed that way for the next 135 years (with several inevitable misidentifications, etc. along the way). In 1969, van Helsdingen revised several linyphiid genera including Neriene, Frontinellina, and Microlinyphia, placing this species in Neriene. Because the there was a preëxisting Neriene marginata since 1833, the oldest available synonym was Neriene radiata.Usually identified by its web (q.v.). Has an obvious white band around the carapace....old field, forest edge, forest; dome-shaped sheet inside tangle .........
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 ............
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...pitfall trap in pine stand with young hardwoods.........
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; 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 woods; funnel/sheet web.........
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Agelenopsis unidentified species............
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. ...forest, forest edge; forest floor vegetation; funnel/sheet web.........
Elaver excepta
a sac spider		Described as Clubiona pallens, Hentz, 1847, but that epithet was preoccupied and the species renamed excepta. The genus Elaver was formally revalidated by Brescovit, Bonaldo & Mikhailov, 1994. ...old field, deciduous forest, taken by Kaston (1948) on pine trees..........
Allocosa funerea
a wolf spider		...old field.........
Thallumetus pineus
a mesh web spider		Male palp highly distinctive.............
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Trachelas similisConsidered to be in the "speciosus group" of Trachelas. Superficially very similar to other trachelid spp. in NC, but has numerous trichobothria on legs. Can also be determined by genitalia............
Pardosa milvina
Shore spider		...forest edge; old field .........
Schizocosa ocreata
Brushlegged wolf spider		...forest, old field .........
Trachelas volutus
a broad-faced sac spider		...Frequently found in rolled loose bark of crepe myrtle, rolled leaves, and similar locations..........
Hibana futilis
a ghost spider		This species was originally described as Anyphaena futilis, (Banks, 1878), and has also been known as Anyph. decepta, Aysha minuta and A. decepta. In the past, Anyphaenidae has been considered a subfamily of the Clubionidae, which with they can readily be confused; likewise, they closely resemble the Cheiracanthiidae (also having been split off from Clubionidae). A quick way to recognize anyphaenids is the placement of the tracheal spiracle, which is located far forward of the spinnerets. In Hibana spp., it's located ca. 2/3 of the distance forward between the............
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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 .........
Argyrodes pluto
a robber spider		............
Araneus thaddeus
Lattice orbweaver		Pale dorsal abdomen with a dark band around the sides. Some individuals have small, dark oval shaped spots on the abdomen. The cephalathorax and legs are orange or pale brown. The legs, particularl...Forest edge, ornamental shrubs and plantings, shrubs in yards....Visual observation.......
Schizocosa avida
a wolf spider		...lake shore, in tall grass .........
Steatoda grossa
False black widow		Can be found in mid-20th Century literature as Teutana grossa.While bearing the American Arachnological Society's recognized common name "false black widow," many specimens are not black, but a purplish-brown, with white markings. The black individuals have no r...in/on buildings, other sheltered locations.........
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Tidarren sisyphoides
a cobweb spider		...dry forest.........
Sabacon mitchelliOne of 11 species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Cokendolpher and Lee, 1993; Holmberg and Buckle, 2019). Three species occur in the East and two in North Carolina.Sabacon species are minute Opiliones distinguished by their enlarged, bristly pedipalps (Shear 1975). Mitchelli is light, purplish brown, with yellow shading on the carapace and abdomen above; no patt...Known only from three sites worldwide, two in Spruce-Fir Forests at over 6,000' in elevation and one in a cove forest below 4,000' ...Specimens have been found using direct search under logs and stones; sifting of leaf litter and extraction using Berlese funnels is also useful....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] [S1S2]This species, along Odiellus nubivagus and Microhexura montivaga were first discovered on an October visit made by Crosby and Bishop in 1923 and subsequently described by those authors. ...
Anelosimus studiosus
a cobweb spider		Colors vary, including brown, tan, red or greenish. Prosoma usually with dark margin and central band, but these may be lacking. Opisthosoma has wavy, central dorsal band having white margins....old field, yards; shrubs, red cedar trees.........
Larinioides cornutus
Furrow orbweaver		Pronounced lar-i-nee-OY-deez. Formerly genus Nuctenea 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 an umarked, unlike other...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....
Mangora gibberosa
Lined orbweaver		Abdomen white with some brownish gold markings and two thin dark parallel lines on lower portion and some black spots on upper portion. Cephalothorax yellowish-green with a single dark line down the ...fields, forest edges, roadsides and gardens....Visual observation, sweep netting.......
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Pelegrina proterva
a jumping spider		...bog, old field.........
Pelegrina galathea
peppered jumper		...bog, old field.........
Tmarus rubromaculatus
a crab spider		...SC; near lake shore.........
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 back to white and almost everything in between. The abdominal pattern is notably mottled, sometimes appearing reticulated. Males characteristically have reddish leg...rock outcrops, buildings, windows, corners of rooms..........
Trichonephila clavata
Jorō Spider		Its being a strikingly large and distinctly colored orb weaver, it would be hard to misidentify. While being notably smaller, the males have the same general markings as the females.............
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Schizocosa floridana
a wolf spider		............
Metacyrba floridana
a jumping spider		Edwards (2006) noted that “Metacyrba floridana is proportionately more slender than [the sympatric—but not syntopic—in Florida] M. taeniola, and, among other differences, has most of its leg segments ...Purportedly xeric, but NC specimens—including those on iNaturalist—have been mostly mesic..........
Sabacon cavicolensOne of 11 species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Cokendolpher and Lee, 1993; Holmberg and Buckle, 2019). Three species occur in the East and two in North Carolina.Sabacon species are minute harvestmen distinguished by their enlarged, bristly pedipalps (Shear 1975). Sabacon cavicolens is yellowish-brown dorsally, bordered by brownish purple on the sides of the c...In North Carolina, Shear (1975) reports finding this species in Spruce-fir forests at the highest elevations in our mountains. High humidity appears to be a key habitat factor and at lower elevations,...Shear (1975) reports collecting this species under wet rotten logs or under stones; he never saw any walking on the surface of the leaf litter....Arachnids are not protected under state law, although permits are needed to collect them in State Parks and other public and private nature preservesGNR [S3S4]As a species associated with cool, moist microclimates in moderate to high elevation forest, Sabacon cavicolens is likely to be vulnerable to the warming, drying impacts of climate change, as well to ...
Oecobius cellariorum
a flatmesh weaver		Minimal markings on the cephalothorax are characteristic.............
Theridion flavonotatum
a cobweb spider		...old field; small tangle web at top of plant.........
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Metacyrba taeniola
a jumping spider		...under bark of log.........
Mermessus tridentatus
a dwarf spider		............
Xysticus funestus
a ground crab spider		...Durham.........
Thymoites marxi
a cobweb spider		Also found in older literature as Paidisca marxifemale abdomen orange-white except for darker orange sclerotized areas and small spots at bases of setae (four dorsal sclerotized spots, sclerotized rings around spinnerets); sometimes with dusky dors............
Theridion murarium
a cobweb spider		...forest, old field, buildings.........
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Theridion differens
a cobweb spider		Epigynum & palpus shown in "Structural photos," q.v....forest and forest edge.........
Sergiolus unimaculatus
a ground spider		............
Scotinella redempta............
Phrurotimpus umbratilis
a phrurolithid		............
Phrurotimpus borealis
a phrurolithid		...old field, forest.........