Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Araneidae Members: NC Records

Mangora placida - tuftlegged orbweaver


Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Araneidae                                                                                 
Species Comment: Feminine form of Placidus, Latin for "placid, gentle, quiet, still, calm, mild, peaceful"
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bugguide
Comments: Abdomen is pale with a dark area in the center, widening towards the rear. There are two rows of three black or dark brown spots along the edge of the dark folium on the abdomen. There is usually a pair of white spots near the widest part of the folium. In some individuals the folium is pale. Cephalothorax and legs are pale brown. The spiders in the genus Mangora have tufts of long, thin sensory hair (trichobothria) on the front edge of the tibiae of leg III.
Total Length: Very small, female total body length 2.3-4.5 mm, male total body length 2.0-2.8 mm.Adult ID: identifiable by photo
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Common throughout North Carolina and the eastern United States. Adults spring and summer, young are common in fall and overwinter to mature the following spring.
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: Low understory vegetation of deciduous forests, fields and tall grasses.
Observation Methods: Visual observation, sweep netting.
Abundance/Frequency: Common.
Silk / Web: Very small orb, finely meshed. This fine mesh allows them to collect small flying insects.
Prey: Small flying insects including pollinators.
Behavior: One of the most common spiders in understory vegetation in eastern deciduous forests.
Status in North Carolina
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 Photo Gallery for Mangora placida - tuftlegged orbweaver

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

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-15
Bertie Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-15
Bertie Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-15
Hertford Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-15
Martin Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-15
Northampton Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2024-03-14
Harnett Co.
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Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP on 2024-03-14
Harnett Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-08
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-08
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-08
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-08
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-07
Pender Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-07
Pender Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-02-17
Jones Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-02-17
Jones Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-01-25
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-12-20
Stokes Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-07-14
Hyde Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-07-14
Hyde Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2023-04-18
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2023-04-18
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2023-04-18
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2023-04-17
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2023-04-17
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2023-04-17
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Donald Zepp on 2022-06-28
Johnston Co.
Comment: Wife's photo through windshield of spider on wiper.
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-04-22
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-03-08
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2021-12-26
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2021-12-21
Mecklenburg Co.
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