Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Araneidae Members: NC Records

Araneus marmoreus - Marbled orbweaver

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 Images, iNaturalist, WikipediaTechnical Description: Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bugguide
Comments: One of our more distinctive but also variable orbweavers. Cephalathorax usually orange or yellow. The legs are orange at the base and have cream/white alternating with black/brown bands. 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.
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
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:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:

Photo Gallery for Araneus marmoreus - Marbled orbweaver

Recorded by: Eric Brannon
Wayne Co.
Comment: By Neuse River bank		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Laura Peeler
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Brotcke
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Brotcke
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Granville Co.
Comment: Wrapping prey
Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: S. Williams
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI
Recorded by: S. Williams
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI		Recorded by: B. Anderson
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM - Observed on Oak Rock Trail.
Recorded by: B. Anderson
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM - Observed on Oak Rock Trail.		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Wayne Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Sanford
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW		Recorded by: Dorothy E. Pugh
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI - Near Bobbitt's Hole
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in a leaf near the path that is beside Millpond Rd., near the old canoe area		Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - north boundary
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in north woods		Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in the vicinity of the north boundary
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - over trail that leds off of Coleman trail & down to water access		Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in leaf off of Cypress Point Trail
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - She had a web attached to the dumptruck antenna.		Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in family campground
Recorded by: n.dominick, j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in leaf at end of web over footbridge to group canoe-in campground		Recorded by: Sam Koch
Rockingham Co.
Comment: MARI
Recorded by: L. Amos
Vance Co.
Comment: KELA - Bullocksville Park		Recorded by: B. Anderson
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM - Obs. on Sycamore Trail.
Recorded by: J. Mickey
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM - Seen along Sal's Branch Trail @ -78.763070, 35.882978		Recorded by: J. Williams, Dwayne Parker
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM
Recorded by: Jason Brown
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM		Recorded by: K. Bischof
Washington Co.
Comment: PETT - Obs. at the Moccasin Trailhead jsut south of Weston Rd. @ -76.444888, 35.804449
Recorded by: T Rayworth
Washington Co.
Comment: PETT		Recorded by: J. Mickey
Wilkes Co.
Comment: STMO - Top of Stone Mountain along edge of rock face and woods. @ -81.043353, 36.392380
Recorded by: J. Mickey
Wilkes Co.
Comment: STMO - Along old logging road leading to Ellis Knoll. @ -81.046228, 36.408408		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: