Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Araneidae Members: NC Records

Acanthepeira stellata - Star-bellied orb weaver

Acanthepeira stellataAcanthepeira stellataAcanthepeira stellataAcanthepeira stellata
Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Araneidae                                                                                 
Species Comment: Latin for "starred" from stella- "star". Alternate spelling Starbellied Orbweaver. Though technically star-abdomened, the points are visible from below.
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Kaston 1948. Bugguide
Comments: Abdomen shape with 10-12 points along the edge. Coloration typcially brownish gray, but can be greenish, orange or reddish. Usually a dark area in the middle portion of the rear part of the abdomen. White or pale bands can sometimes show on sides or front. The frontal spike hanging over the cephalothorax can have two white lines that form a "v" at the point or even a triangle. Rear spike has a darker "v" or chevron. Cephalothorax color varies like the abdomen, legs can be banded in either sex. Male has similar markings and coloration but with a smaller abdomen. Body is covered in hairlike setae. Lateral eyes are on a pointed tubercle. In retreat often folds legs in front to a point. It is exceedingly difficult to separate some Acanthepeira specimens from the southeastern United States and it appears that three species interbreed. A. cherokee - Females (8.5-10.5 mm) may differ from other species in this genus by having smaller/less distinct abdominal humps. Males (6.5-11 mm) have 4th coxa without tubercle. Habitat is moist bottomland woods. A. marion - Females (10-15.5 mm) easily recognized by rounded humps. Males (7-10.5 mm) have 4th coxa with tubercle. A. stellata - Females (7-15 mm) Larger than venusta, more rounded, darker, deeply colored abdomen. Of the 4 species this is the only one which has AMEs smaller than secondary eyes. Female scape can be variable, esp. those from FL. Males (5-8 mm) have 4th coxa with tubercle and retrolateral macrosetae of fourth femur about equal in size. A. venusta - Females (6-10 mm) Can be distinguished by smaller size, narrow abdomen & lighter less contrasting pattern. This is the only species that might have ventral white marks. It might have a white transverse mark or two white spots behind the genital groove. Males (5-7.5 mm) have 4th coxa without tubercle.
Total Length: Small to medium sized spider, Female total body length 7.0-15.1 mm, male total body length 5.1-8.1mm.Adult ID: identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Found throughout North Carolina and the eastern United States. Eggs hatch in late summer, sub adults overwinter and mature in spring and early summer.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Acanthepeira stellata
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: old fields, grasslands, sand dune vegetation, meadows, forest under story, structures and occasionally in trees.
Observation Methods: Collected by sweep netting or visual surveys.
Abundance/Frequency: Frequent
Silk / Web: 6-10" orb web in vegetation up to four feet in height.
Prey: Preys on grasshopper nymphs and other medium sized insects including a rare occurrence of a green tree frog.
Predators: Starbellied Orbweavers are often found in the larval mud cells of mud daubers.
Behavior: Nocturnal but not strictly, builds a 6-10" orb web in vegetation up to four feet in height. Female spends the night in hub of web facing down. Easily disturbed it can drop from web to disappear in vegetation or to feign death. During the day it rests in a retreat. Egg sacs are a loose brown silk mass attached to a leaf.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
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 Photo Gallery for Acanthepeira stellata - Star-bellied orb weaver

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

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-02
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger, Jim Petranka, and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-03
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger, Jim Petranka, and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-03
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-26
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-20
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-05
Hoke Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-05
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-03
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-03
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-25
Bladen Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-09
Wayne Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-09
Wayne Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-09
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-09
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2024-08-19
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chris MURPHY & Donald ZEPP on 2024-07-29
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-07-16
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-03-26
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-08-14
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-07-27
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips on 2022-09-27
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-03-04
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: N. Williamson on 2021-08-22
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J. Mickey on 2021-07-22
Surry Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-04-21
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2021-03-11
Burke Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-12-10
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-11-22
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-11-03
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-11-03
Carteret Co.
Comment: