Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Gnaphosidae Members: NC Records

Gnaphosa sericata - a ground spider

Gnaphosa sericataGnaphosa sericataGnaphosa sericataGnaphosa sericata
Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Gnaphosidae                                                                                 
Comments: The taxonomic status of this species has been relatively stable since the middle of the 20th Century.
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description:

Platnick, N. I. & Shadab, M. U. (1975). A revision of the spider genus Gnaphosa (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) in America. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 155: 1-66.

Comments: "Gnaphosa sericata may be distinguished from all other Nearctic Gnaphosa by the extremely long embolus, coiled three times around the bulb [...] and the coiled epigynal ducts and spermathecae" (Platnick & Shadab, 1975)

Reddish cephalothorax and gray-to-black abdomen

Total Length: Literature: Female 5.26±0.87mm, male 4.34±0.30mm. N.b. A male specimen (04 May, 2023) from Johnston Co. is 5.5mm.Adult ID: identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info
Structural photos
Gnaphosa sericata
 Gnaphosa sericata
 Gnaphosa sericata
The only species in the genus having this 3-looped embolus		 Gnaphosa sericata
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: New York to Utah, south to Guatemala [...] and Cuba
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Gnaphosa sericata
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: SC; forest edge
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency: Not rare, but infrequently taken.
Silk / Web: none
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Gnaphosa sericata - a ground spider

Photos: 12

Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-04-17
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-04-17
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-04-17
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-04-17
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Carmen and Donald ZEPP on 2023-05-04
Johnston Co.
Comment: Distinctive palp shown in "Structural photos," above. (Note mite on RLIII.)		Recorded by: Carmen and Donald ZEPP on 2023-05-04
Johnston Co.
Comment: Post mortem photo
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2023-04-12
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2023-04-12
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2023-04-12
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-08-13
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-04-30
Rockingham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Bo Sullivan on 2020-04-27
Carteret Co.
Comment: