Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Nephilidae Members: NC Records

Trichonephila clavipes (Linnaeus, 1767) - Golden Silk orbweaver


Male
Immature
Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: NephilidaeSubfamily: NephilinaeSynonym: Nephila clavipes                                                                                 
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIF
Comments: Female has elongated yellow-orange abdomen with white spots and prosoma covered in white hairs. Male orange with black mottling. Legs with orange and black bands.
Total Length: Size of female 19-34 mm, male 5-8 mm. Adult ID: identifiable by photo
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Coastal plain of the southeast, and moist forested habitat inland.
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: Moist forests
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency: Common to infrequent around edge or range. Common in core of range, infrequent around edges of range as they “range” inland.
Silk / Web: Female make a large (up to seven feet) orb web 2-20 feet off the ground that is a golden color. Beside the main web may be one or more barrier webs which protect her from predators. The large web lasts longer than most orb webs being repaired as needed. Most orb weavers remove and rebuild webs daily.
Prey: Small flying insects - flies, beetles, moths etc. - are caught in the web. The spider incapacitates them by biting. Wrapped prey is brought back to the hub of the web, which is usually off-center in the structure. This central storage of food may be a strategy to reduce theft by the kleptoparasitic Argyrodes.
Behavior: Adults mature in through summer and fall. Several males may be courting in one female’s web.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Trichonephila clavipes - Golden Silk orbweaver

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

Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-10-26
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-10-16
Dare Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-08
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jack V. on 2023-10-03
Beaufort Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2023-09-16
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2023-09-16
Robeson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-03
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2023-07-30
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: G. Schneider on 2023-06-17
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: L. Eckart on 2022-10-26
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-10-06
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Margo MacNair on 2022-09-03
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Margo MacNair on 2022-09-03
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-08-28
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2022-08-22
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2022-08-22
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Austin Brooks on 2022-07-27
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Austin Brooks on 2022-07-27
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: M.Windsor on 2022-07-17
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Alvin Braswell on 2022-07-12
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-06-10
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-06-10
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-12-05
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2021-10-12
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2021-10-12
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther on 2021-10-01
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther on 2021-09-24
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-09-18
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Brey on 2021-07-09
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Brey on 2021-07-09
New Hanover Co.
Comment: