Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Araneidae Members: NC Records

Verrucosa arenata - an orb weaver



Immature
Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Araneidae                                                                                 
Comments: 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.
Species Comment: Several regional, colloquial names have been used to describe this spider, including "triangulate orb weaver" and "arrowhead spider."
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Levi, H. W. (1976). The orb-weaver genera Verrucosa, Acanthepeira, Wagneriana, Acacesia, Wixia, Scoloderus and Alpaida north of Mexico. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 147: p. 358.
Comments: 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 this triangular area. The legs and cephalothorax may be tan, brown, or rusty red.
Total Length: Females 5-9.5mm; males 5.5-6mmAdult ID: identifiable by photo
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Eastern deciduous forests, gardens, suburban plantings.
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: forest edge, forest
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency: Fairly common in the mountains and Piedmont--less so in the Coastal Plain.
Silk / Web: A typical—but coarse—orb; atypically, the spider usually rests in it head upward. In open areas, the web is usually taken down during the day, but it has been observed intact and inhabited by the spider during daytime hours in dark or heavily shaded areas.
Status in North Carolina
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 Photo Gallery for Verrucosa arenata - an orb weaver

53 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: J. Mickey on 2023-10-03
Wilkes Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-26
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Terrell Tucker on 2023-09-25
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-19
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-19
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: S. Erickson, T. Harris, K. Bischof on 2023-09-07
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: Donald Zepp on 2023-09-03
Harnett Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-07-22
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins on 2022-12-18
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2022-09-12
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2022-08-27
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-08-27
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-07-27
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Kim STONE on 2021-10-11
Franklin Co.
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Recorded by: Rusty James on 2021-09-23
Cumberland Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-09-12
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-09-02
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: H. Quay on 2021-08-29
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2021-08-27
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-07-01
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-07-01
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-11-08
Granville Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-10-21
Granville Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2020-10-10
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-09-23
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: J. Thomson on 2020-09-16
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: J. Thomson on 2020-09-16
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-08-24
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-08-24
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2019-06-01
Stokes Co.
Comment: Immature