Arachnids of North Carolina
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Mimetus puritanus
a pirate spider
...on outside of building; meadow.........
Wamba crispulus............
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.........
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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.........
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.........
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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.........
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...
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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...
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.........
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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..........
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.........
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Xysticus funestus
a ground crab spider
...Durham.........
Hypochilus pococki - central clade
A Lampshade Spider
............
Araneus pegnia
Butterfly orbweaver
Abdomen has distinctive four oval areas that vaguely resemble a pair of butterfly wings. These oval areas are usually pale, sometimes even pink in color. Behind these pale light spots on the abdomen...forest, shrubby areas, wet areas including bogs, buildings; in Rhododendron maximum. These spiders often build their webs in low shrubby vegetation, but webs can also be found under the eaves of bu...Sweep net, beating.......
Mangora gibberosa
Lined orbweaver
Placed in the genus Mangora since 1895, with a brief description as Abbotiana by Strand in 1929—which was considered a "superfluous generic replacement name.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.......
Eustala emertoni
an orbweaver
Legs with only femora banded, abdomen oval without hump, which separates this from others in the genus. Males difficult to distinguish from others in the genus....forest edge, fields, pine forest, marshes....Sweep netting.......
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Trachelas similis
a cuspuled spider
Considered 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............
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.........
Emblyna altimara
a mesh web spider
Formerly Dictyna savanna ...Intertidal grasses.........
Philodromus undarum
a running crab spider
This species is related to Philodromus marxi Keyserling but differs in that the lateral tibial apophysis is wider and more triangular at the tip.............
Phrurotimpus illudens
a phrurolithid
...This is a common species on the floor of maritime shrub communities..........
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Clubiona nicholsi
a leafcurling sac spider
...Both Clubiona nicholsi and C. plumbi are abundant in maritime areas, but they are very sharply separated in their ecological distribution. Clubiona plumbi is most abundant in the xeric habitats, suc.........
Clubiona plumbi
a leafcurling sac spider
...Both Clubiona nicholsi and C. plumbi are abundant in maritime areas, but they are very sharply separated in their ecological distribution. Clubiona plumbi is most abundant in the xeric habitats, suc.........
Clubiona littoralis
a leafcurling sac spider
...This species is not abundant but was occasionally swept from salt marsh grass. .........
Varacosa shenandoa
a wolf spider
Formerly trochosa...This species is very common on the floor of dune grass communities....In contrast to V. avara, V. shenandoa is mature only during the winter months, at least in the Beaufort region. Adults, including females with egg cases and young, were collected from November through......
Singa keyserlingi
an orbweaver
............
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Phycosoma lineatipes
a cobweb spider
Formerly Dipoena lineatipes ............
Schizocosa humilis ?
a wolf spider
Formerly S. episma and Lycosa episma...bog .........
Schizocosa salsa
a wolf spider
MALE: COLOR: Carapace with a median longitudinal yellow band beginning at second eye row. Band slightly invaded by black pigment at level of third eye row, expanded slightly behind middle of carapac...Saltwater Marshes and Flats.........
Trichonephila clavata
an orbweaver
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.............
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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Florinda coccinea
Black-tailed red sheetweaver, scarlet sheetweaver
The black caudal tubercle is the key. Once you see a bright orange spider in a horizontal web with this feature it is almost always Florinda coccinea. Ceraticelus or other orange Erigonids don't have ...old field, bog, grass bald, roadside grass.........
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.........
Theridion frondeum
a cobweb spider
Thick black stripe on carapace...forest understory, forest edge, old field; small web under live leaf.........
Hypochilus pococki
A Lampshade Spider
central clade...sheltered rock outcrops in forest; lampshade web ......G4G5 S4...
Grammonota inornata
a dwarf spider
...Kaston (1948) reported this species being found under leaves, but also "in greatest abundance [in Connecticut ] on open beaches under dry eel-grass and other weeds.".........