Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Araneidae Members: NC Records

Araneus bicentenarius - lichenmarked orbweaver


Male
Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Araneidae                                                                                 
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bug Guide
Comments: One of North America's largest orbweavers. Most are marked with a pattern of light green and reddish brown blotches on abdomen. Prominent abdominal humps in adult. Legs blotchy green with bases orange/reddish orange with a black band.
Total Length: Very large. Females total body length 20-30 mm long and up to 20 mm wide. Males total body length less than 10 mm.Adult ID: identifiable by photo
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Overwinters as a subadult and matures early for such a large spider. In the coastal plain matures by April or May, in the mountains early June or July. Usually any extremely large web encountered at this time of year in the forests of the Carolinas is this species, because the golden silk and marbled orbweavers are active as adults in the fall.
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 openings
Observation Methods: When not in web they may be encountered on lichen covered trees or green vegetation. Shaking the web or telegraph line can sometimes draw the female out.
Abundance/Frequency: Uncommon throughout the state and eastern United States.
Silk / Web: Large orb, 3-4 feet in diameter.
Predators: Two kleptoparasitic scorpionflies, Panorpa rufescens Rambur (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), were observed stealing food from Araneus bicentenarius (McCook) (Araneae: Araneidae) at Waterboro Barrens Preserve, York County, Maine. The spider's ensnared prey was a larva of Lapara sp. (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), which provided food for both spider and kleptoparasites.
Behavior: At night this spider builds a large orb web 3-4' in diameter hiding in a leaf retreat throughout the day with a telegraph line to feel for prey.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
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 Photo Gallery for Araneus bicentenarius - lichenmarked orbweaver

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

Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-20
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-20
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-07-12
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-07-12
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-07-12
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-09-18
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-07-05
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-08-27
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-08-07
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Deborah Gideon on 2022-07-28
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Denise Shields on 2022-07-02
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Denise Shields on 2022-07-02
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-07-29
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chloe Tipton on 2020-08-14
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-02
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-02
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2018-07-16
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2018-07-16
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2017-08-16
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2017-08-02
Gates Co.
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Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2017-08-02
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Nicholas L. Prince on 2016-09-27
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2016-07-21
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: S. Lane on 2015-06-24
Harnett Co.
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Recorded by: J. A. Anderson on 2014-08-13
Surry Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: j.wyche on 2014-08-09
Gates Co.
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Recorded by: j.wyche on 2014-07-23
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2014-06-09
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2013-08-09
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2012-07-03
Transylvania Co.
Comment: