Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Araneidae Members: NC Records

Neoscona arabesca - Arabesque orbweaver


Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Araneidae                                                                                 
Comments: This species' nomenclature has been stable since 1936. Interestingly, Simon erected the genus Neoscona in 1864 when he was only 16 years old, but his mastery of Greek seems to have been rather "shaky" (Look Who's Talking Dept. --dbz): It is relatively clear that he meant "spinning among the reeds," but Neoscona translates literally as "spinning a reed." In 1869, Thorell charitably tried to correct this with the spelling "Neoschoena," but this was rejected by Bonnet (1958) who decided that the original spelling should be retained "even if incorrectly written"—although he agreed with Thorell.

The specific epithet arabesca probably refers to the arabesque style of surface decorations.

Identification
Online Description/Photos: The prosoma can be yellow to brown. When it is paler, you can make out a median stripe and darker edges. It is often covered with hair. The opisthosoma is highly variable in color: some are pale yellows and tans, while others are rich browns. Paired dark brown to black dashes are on the posterior half of the opisthosoma. The ventral opisthosoma is black, with horizontal yellow dashes at the epigastric furrow and paired longitudinal yellow dashes toward the spinnerets. (Rose, 2022) BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: html_bibio_code

Pickard-Cambridge, F. O. (1904). Arachnida - Araneida and Opiliones. In: Biologia Centrali-Americana, Zoology. London 2, 465-560, pl. 44-51.

Total Length: Female 5.2-7.7mm, male 4.2-5.9mm
Structural photos

Scape of Pitt Co. specimen, 23 October 2023
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Found throughout NC and common in all 48 contiguous states. (Bradley, 2013)
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: old field, grass bald, forest edge. Most abundant in open areas.
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency:
Silk / Web: Orb
Behavior: Webs are built in low vegetation in a variety of habitats.
Status in North Carolina
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 Photo Gallery for Neoscona arabesca - Arabesque orbweaver

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

Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP on 2023-11-06
Edgecombe Co.
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Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP on 2023-10-23
Pitt Co.
Comment: See scape in "Structural photos," above
Recorded by: Terrell Tucker on 2023-08-22
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-08-17
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-07-27
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jessica Sass on 2023-07-16
Bertie Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-07-14
Hyde Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-07-02
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-06-27
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-06-27
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-06-27
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-06-17
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-06-17
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-06-17
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2022-08-09
Rockingham Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2022-05-11
Pender Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2022-04-30
Rockingham Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2021-11-17
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-10-26
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2021-10-04
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2021-10-04
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-09-25
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-09-18
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-07-21
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther on 2021-05-17
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-04-13
New Hanover Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-10-26
Pender Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2020-10-21
Granville Co.
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Recorded by: Donald ZEPP on 2020-09-30
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Donald ZEPP on 2020-09-30
Johnston Co.
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