Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Araneidae Members: NC Records

Araneus marmoreus - Marbled orbweaver

Araneus marmoreusAraneus marmoreusAraneus marmoreusAraneus marmoreusAraneus marmoreus
Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Araneidae                                                                                 
Comments: Latin "of or like marble" from marmor- "marble"
Species Comment: Halloween spider; Pumpkin spider
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bugguide
Comments: One of our more distinctive—but also variable—orbweavers. Cephalothorax usually orange or yellow. The legs are orange at the base and have cream/white alternating with black/brown bands; femora orange. Abdomen color variable, most common form has a pale or yellow base color with a dark pattern on the folium. Northern color forms include a dusky and black-spotted. Young individuals are pale and usually rest in the web at night, rarely seen.
Total Length: Medium size, female 9-18 mm, male 5.9 mmAdult ID: identifiable by photo
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Statewide in North Caorlina, more common in mountians and piedmont than coastal plain. Ranges from Alaska to Newfoundland, south to Oregon, Utah, sourthern Texas, and South Carolina. Adults present July-December.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Araneus marmoreus
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: Coniferous or deciduous forest as well as open habitats.
Observation Methods: Visual observation.
Abundance/Frequency: Fairly common
Silk / Web: Large orb web, often with a retreat in a curled leaf at its upper edge.
Behavior: Web is built in low bushes, tall grasses or low branches of a tree. The retreat can easily be found near an upper corner of the web. During the day the spider waits in the retreat and holds a telegraph line connected to hub. On cloudy days, at dusk and all night it may be found hanging at the hub. The appearance of large orange females, preparing to lay eggs, observed on or near the ground near the end of October is the source of the nickname "Halloween spider".
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
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State Protection:
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 Photo Gallery for Araneus marmoreus - Marbled orbweaver

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

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-12
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-10
Ashe Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-08-04
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-07-31
Henderson Co.
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Recorded by: Vesna Shedd on 2025-07-15
Harnett Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-03
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-03
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dan Cassanos on 2024-11-17
Iredell Co.
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Recorded by: Dan Cassanos on 2024-11-17
Iredell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Sanford on 2024-11-11
Bertie Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-06
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Kristen Carey on 2024-11-05
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-05
Lee Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-05
Lee Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-05
Lee Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-05
Lee Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-04
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jimmy Harris Jr on 2024-10-26
Pitt Co.
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Recorded by: Jimmy Harris Jr on 2024-10-26
Pitt Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2024-10-25
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-23
Johnston Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeana Boblett on 2024-10-16
Union Co.
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Recorded by: Jeana Boblett on 2024-10-16
Union Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeana Boblett on 2024-10-16
Union Co.
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Recorded by: B Lucas on 2024-10-04
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-09-23
Gaston Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Caroline Smith on 2024-08-30
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-08-12
Yancey Co.
Comment: