Arachnids of North Carolina
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Pelegrina proterva
a jumping spider		...bog, old field.........
Erigone autumnalis
a dwarf spider		...old field; sifted from moss near ditch ...Johnston Co. specimen taken in Berlese sample of soil & leaf litter on concrete at foot of residential steps.......
Drassyllus aprilinus
a ground spider		Described by Banks as Zelotes aprilinus in 1904, it was transferred to newly erected genus Drassyllus by Chamberlin in 1922.Specific determination of the genus Drassyllus requires analysis of the genitalia, as colors and markings are inconsistent....Under leaves, logs, etc. Generally on the ground..........
Deinopis spinosa
Ogrefaced Spider		............
Theridion differens
a cobweb spider		Epigynum & palpus shown in "Structural photos," q.v....forest and forest edge.........
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Scytodes atlacoya
a spitting spider		New species described by Rheims, Brescovit & Durán-Barrón, 2007Cephalothorax light tan, with darker tan or light brown "chain" pattern. Abdomen tan to light grey, often "leopard-spotted." Occasionally the spots coalesce into small stripes or bands. Female genital...Synanthropic; indoors and out. Found behind bark, in pile of firewood, and taken by "beating" ornamental shrubbery (--dbz)....Frequently seen at night on exterior door frames and window screens.......
Agroeca pratensisAgroeca pratensis was described by Emerton in 1890 as a member of the family Drassidae; shortly thereafter, in 1897, Simon designated it a member of the Liocraninae, a subfamily of the Clubionidae (historically, a rather unstable taxon). When the Clubionidae was split apart by Lehtinen in 1967, the subfamily was elevated to family level. While the males of A. pratensis have been confused with those of A. ornata, The epigynum of the two species is decidedly different. ............
Emblyna sublata
a mesh web spider		............
Microdipoena guttata
a minute clasping weaver		Despite its tiny size, the males can be determined by the conspicuous presence of clasping spines on their tibiae and metatarsi....Taken by sifting in dry leaves in woods and at edges of swamps....Rarely seen, owing to small size. Generally found by sifting or Berlese funnel.......
Eustala cepina
an orbweaver		Smaller but can resemble E. anastera, legs slightly banded, abdomen is triangular almost as wide as long; it may lack dorsal pattern, or have longitudinal line down the middle. The three species repo...low vegetation near stream, lake shores, fields, pine dunes, ponds, gardens, oak (seems to prefer wetter areas than anastera)...Sweep netting.......
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Mermessus maculatus
a dwarf spider		............
Trachelas volutus
a Broad-faced Sac Spider		...Frequently found in rolled loose bark of crepe myrtle, rolled leaves, and similar locations..........
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...Sweep net, beating.......
Neoscona pratensis
a spotted orbweaver		...NC coast.........
Lyssomanes viridis
Magnolia green jumper		...riparian forest.........
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Hakka himeshimensis
a jumping spider		............
Metaltella simoni
Simon's metal spider		...forest floor.........
Phrurotimpus annulatus
a phrurolithid		............
Xysticus funestus
a ground crab spider		...Durham.........
Pocobletus coroniger
a sheet-web spider		............
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Gasteracantha cancriformis
Spinybacked orbweaver		cancriformis (L), 'crab shaped'A very distinctive spider with many color forms. Abdomen crab like with six spines around edge. Abdomen color can be white, yellowish to orange with dark spots, spines are tipped in black or red. C...Woodland edges, shrubby vegetation, gardens, agricultural areas including orchards and citrus groves....Visual observation, sweep netting and beat sheets.......
Euryopis funebris
a cobweb spider		...old field.........
Scotinella redempta............
Eidmannella pallida
a cave cobweb spider		............
Neoscona crucifera
a spotted orbweaver		Has borne these names since its description as Epiera crucifera (Lucas, 1838): E. lentiginosa, E. hentzii, E. domiciliorum, Aranea c., Neoscona benjamina, N. arkansa, N. nebraskensis, N. sacra, N. hentzii, and N. hentzi. While N. crucifera's markings can be confused with those of N. domiciliorum, the adult females can readily be distinguished by the former's much longer scape. ...disturbed forest, often near buildings.........
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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 Parasteadoa 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 2121). 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..........
Theridula opulenta
a cobweb spider		...forest, old field.........
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.........
Agelenopsis pennsylvanica
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 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 marking a...old field, meadows, grassy areas, occasionally in woods; funnel/sheet web.........
Platycryptus undatus
Tan jumping spider		...on buildings, sweeping old field. Behind loose tree bark..........
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Pholcomma barnesi
a cobweb spider		............
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............
Phrurotimpus umbratilis
a phrurolithid		............
Scotinella fratrella............
Ceraticelus minutus
a dwarf spider		............
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Eridantes erigonoides...Leaf litter, grasses and bushes. Kaston (1948) reports its collection from fences whilst ballooning..........
Lathys maculina
a mesh web spider		...SC; riverside forest .........
Origanates rostratus
a dwarf spider		............
Anyphaena maculata
a ghost spider		Darker in color than A. pectorosa, the chelicerae are darker than the body. The cephalothorax has thin, dark lines extending back from the eyes in the cephalic region to a ring of dark around the tho............
Castianeira crocata
Red-spotted antmimic		At this point we aren't sure we can separate C. crocata & C. descripta. It's possible that the red mark goes all the way to the rear in C. descripta and stops short in C. crocata. Also, males of C. de............
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Schizocosa floridana
a wolf spider		............
Pholcus phalangioides
Longbodied cellar spider		First described as Aranea phalangoides Fuesslin, 1775 (gender masculine), 30 years later, in 1805, Walkenaer erected the genus Pholcus, with phalangioides as its type.Extremely long legs (6-8 times longer than the body), pale in color, usually upside down in a web....Dark, often dank locations: dark corners, under shelves, in cellars, caves, mines and garages.........
Pardosa milvina
Shore spider		...forest edge; old field .........
Eris militaris
Bronze jumping spider		...forest (in Rhododendron maximum), old field.........
Sergiolus unimaculatus
a ground spider		............
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Philodromus keyserlingi
a running crab spider		...SC; riverside forest .........
Phrurotimpus borealis
a phrurolithid		...old field, forest.........
Naphrys pulex
a jumping spider		Habrocestum pulex was transferred to the new genus Naphrys by Edwards in 2002....forest, rock walls, exterior walls of buildings, grass and leaves on ground.........
Spermophora senoculata
Short-bodied cellar spider		S. domestica synonymized w. senoculata...Durham.........
Marpissa lineata
a jumping spider		...old field.........