Arachnids of North Carolina
Order:
Scientific Name: Common Name: Family (Alpha):
« »
View Nephilidae Members: NC Records

Trichonephila clavipes (Linnaeus, 1767) - Golden Silk orbweaver

Trichonephila clavipesTrichonephila clavipesTrichonephila clavipes
Male		Trichonephila clavipes
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.
Trichonephila clavipes
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

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

Recorded by: Emily Elizabeth on 2025-07-15
Dare Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-01
Currituck Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-05-31
Currituck Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-04-19
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-06
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Randy Newman on 2024-10-28
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-25
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP on 2024-10-25
Johnston Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-25
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-25
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-24
Jones Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-24
Pamlico Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-23
Duplin Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-23
Sampson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-23
Sampson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tom Barbee on 2024-09-18
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Terrell Tucker on 2024-09-10
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-30
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Colin Swann on 2024-07-24
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Colin Swann on 2024-07-24
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Colin Swann on 2024-07-24
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-13
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul C. Hart on 2024-07-09
Harnett Co.
Comment: 		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: