Spiders of North Carolina

Order:
Scientific Name: Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

View	Agelenidae Members:	NC Records
Agelenopsis kastoni - a grass spider

Taxonomy

Order: ARANEAE	Infraorder: Araneomorphae	Family: Agelenidae
Comments: Agelenopsis kastoni has a stable taxonomic history, having been described as such by Chamberlin & Ivie, 1941.
Species Comment: The 5 Agelenopsis species reported from NC "resemble each other closely in general appearance. Even in the same species there is much variation in size and some in depth of color. Our [five] known species can only be distinguished with certainty only by a comparison of the genitalia." (Kaston, 1948) The NC species can, however, be distinguished with some accuracy by noting their differing habitats: A. kastoni is usually found in mature forest, funnel in low branches; they have been captured in pitfall traps in pine stands with young hardwoods.

Identification

Online Description/Photos:

BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIF

Technical Description: Kaston, B. J. (1948). Spiders of Connecticut. Bulletin of the Connecticut State Geological and Natural History Survey 70: 1-874.

Comments: 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 sternum is indistinct.

Total Length: females 9-11mm; males 8-9mm

Adult ID: identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info

Structural Features: Click to see acomparison of the genitalia of the 5 Agelenopsis species reported in NC

Structural photos

Whitman-Zai, J., Francis, M., Geick, M. and Cushing, P. E. (2015). Revision and morphological phylogenetic analysis of the funnel web spider genus Agelenopsis (Araneae: Agelenidae). Journal of Arachnology 43: 1-25

Distribution in North Carolina

Comments: Durham Co., Duke Forest, Kerley Rd;
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Adult phenology: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: mature forest, funnel in low branches; captured in pitfall trap in pine stand with young hardwoods
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency:
Silk / Web: Typically a slightly concave, horizontal sheet having at one end a tube that serves as a retreat for the web's denizen, and, the tube's being open at both ends, it also serves as an emergency exit. The webbing is not sticky: instead, the spider relies on its quickness to seize prey that falls or blunders onto its web.

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks:

State Protection:

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Agelenopsis kastoni - a grass spider		Photos: 6
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-05-10 Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-10-07 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-06-17 Avery Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-06-17 Avery Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-08-04 Alleghany Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-08-04 Alleghany Co. Comment:

Agelenopsis kastoni - a grass spider

Photo Gallery for Agelenopsis kastoni - a grass spider

Photos: 6