Arachnids of North Carolina
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Common Spiders of NC
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Comments
Order:
Araneae - Spiders
Opiliones - Harvestmen
Pseudoscorpiones - Pseudoscorpions
Scorpiones - Scorpions
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
ACROPSOPILIONIDAE-
AGELENIDAE-Funnel Weavers
AMAUROBIIDAE-Hacklemesh Weavers
ANTRODIAETIDAE-Folding Trapdoor Spiders
ANYPHAENIDAE-Ghost Spiders
ARANEIDAE-Orb Weavers
ATYPIDAE-Purseweb Spiders
BUTHIDAE-
CADDIDAE-
CHEIRACANTHIIDAE-
CHEIRIDIIDAE-
CHELIFERIDAE-
CHERNETIDAE-
CHTHONIIDAE-
CICURINIDAE-
CLUBIONIDAE-Sac Spiders
CORINNIDAE-Antmimics and Ground Sac Spiders
COSMETIDAE-Armoured harvestmen
CTENIDAE-Wandering Spiders
CYBAEIDAE-
DEINOPIDAE-Ogrefaced spider
DESIDAE-
DICTYNIDAE-Mesh Web Weavers
DYSDERIDAE-
EUCTENIZIDAE-Wafer-lid Trapdoor Spiders
FILISTATIDAE-
GARYPINIDAE-
GNAPHOSIDAE-Ground Spiders
HAHNIIDAE-
HALONOPROCTIDAE-
HYPOCHILIDAE-
LARCIDAE-
LEPTONETIDAE-
LINYPHIIDAE-Sheetweb and Dwarf Spiders
LIOCRANIDAE-Liocranid Sac Spiders
LYCOSIDAE-Wolf Spiders
MICROHEXURIDAE-
MIMETIDAE-Pirate spiders
MITURGIDAE-Prowling Spiders
MYSMENIDAE-
NEOBISIIDAE-
NEPHILIDAE-
NESTICIDAE-Scaffold Web Spiders
OECOBIIDAE-Wall spiders
OONOPIDAE-
OXYOPIDAE-Lynx Spiders
PHALANGIIDAE-
PHALANGODIDAE-Armoured harvestmen
PHILODROMIDAE-Running Crab Spiders
PHOLCIDAE-
PHONOGNATHIDAE-
PHRUROLITHIDAE-
PISAURIDAE-Nursery Web Spiders
SABACONIDAE-
SALTICIDAE-Jumping Spiders
SCLEROSOMATIDAE-
SCYTODIDAE-
SEGESTRIIDAE-
SICARIIDAE-
SPARASSIDAE-Giant Crab Spiders
STERNOPHORIDAE-
TARACIDAE-
TETRAGNATHIDAE-Long-jawed Orb Weavers
THERIDIIDAE-Cobweb Spiders
THERIDIOSOMATIDAE-Ray Spiders
THOMISIDAE-Crab Spiders
TITANOECIDAE-
TRACHELIDAE-
TRIAENONYCHIDAE-Armoured harvestmen
TRIDENCHTHONIIDAE-
ULOBORIDAE-Cribellate Orb Weavers
VAEJOVIDAE-
ZOROPSIDAE-False Wolf Spiders & Wandering Spiders
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Araneidae Members:
Acacesia hamata
Acanthepeira cherokee
Acanthepeira marion
Acanthepeira stellata
Acanthepeira venusta
Araneus alboventris
Araneus bicentenarius
Araneus bivittatus
Araneus bonsallae
Araneus cingulatus
Araneus diadematus
Araneus gadus
Araneus guttulatus
Araneus iviei
Araneus juniperi
Araneus marmoreus
Araneus miniatus
Araneus niveus
Araneus nordmanni
Araneus partitus
Araneus pegnia
Araneus pratensis
Araneus saevus
Araneus thaddeus
Araneus trifolium
Araneus tuscarora
Araneus unidentified species
Araniella displicata
Argiope aurantia
Argiope florida
Argiope trifasciata
Cyclosa caroli
Cyclosa conica
Cyclosa turbinata
Eriophora ravilla
Eustala anastera
Eustala cepina
Eustala emertoni
Gasteracantha cancriformis
Gea heptagon
Hypsosinga funebris
Hypsosinga rubens
Kaira alba
Larinia directa
Larinioides cornutus
Larinioides patagiatus
Larinioides sclopetarius
Mangora gibberosa
Mangora maculata
Mangora placida
Mangora spiculata
Mastophora bisaccata
Mastophora phrynosoma
Mastophora stowei
Mastophora timuqua
Mecynogea lemniscata
Metazygia calix
Metazygia carolinalis
Metazygia wittfeldae
Metepeira labyrinthea
Micrathena gracilis
Micrathena mitrata
Micrathena sagittata
Neoscona arabesca
Neoscona crucifera
Neoscona domiciliorum
Neoscona nautica
Neoscona oaxacensis
Neoscona pratensis
Ocrepeira ectypa
Ocrepeira georgia
Singa keyserlingi
Verrucosa arenata
NC
Records
Araneus miniatus
(Walckenaer, 1841) - Black-spotted Orbweaver
Taxonomy
Order:
ARANEAE
Infraorder:
Araneomorphae
Family:
Araneidae
Synonym:
Araneus allani
Comments:
In erecting Amamrotypus as a new genus in 1954, Allan Archer had named a fairly obscure Arizona species Am. miniatus. In 1973, Levi synonymized that genus with Araneus, which already included Ar. miniatus. This resulted in a proscribed homonym, whereby two different species would have ended up with the very same name: Araneus miniatus. As Archer had named his species in 1954, while Walckenaer had named the other species (Epeira) miniata in 1841, the latter had priority, and the former, Amamrotypus, species needed a new specific epithet. Thus, the name Araneus allani was duly assigned by Levi who pointed out that he had named it after its original author, Allan Archer.
Species Comment:
Also called Blackspotted Orbweaver.
Identification
Online Description/Photos:
BugGuide
Google
,
iNaturalist
,
Wikipedia
,
GBIF
Technical Description:
Levi, H. W. (1973). Small orb-weavers of the genus Araneus north of Mexico (Araneae: Araneidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 145: 473-552. Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bugguide
Comments:
This small orbweaver has an abdomen that is widest at the anterior end with two lateral humps. The abdomen is reddish brown with a white transverse band near the widest point. The back of the abdomen has paired dark spots. The cephalathorax and legs are pale brown. The center of the cephalathorax is darker brown, widest at the eye region. The legs are faintly banded. Color forms include a dark black one with bright white band, paler brown form, milky white/green form, a spotted black/white form, a reddish form with an orange band instead of white. White band is variable can be split in middle, wider and cross like, but typically not as extensive as in A. pegnia. Cephalahtorax varies less but pattern consistent.
Total Length:
Very small, female 3-4.7 mm, male 2.5-3.7 mm
Adult ID:
identifiable by photo
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments:
Statewide in North Carolina. Occurs in eastern United States, New England to Florida and west to Texas. Adults early spring to early summer.
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:
Open and swampy woods, pines, scrub oaks, southern hammocks, maritime forests and barrier islands.
Observation Methods:
Visual observation, at night in web or in retreats during the day.
Abundance/Frequency:
Uncommon
Prey:
Frequently captures mosquitoes.
Behavior:
Active at night, returning to the retreat during the day.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:
Photo Gallery for
Araneus miniatus
- Black-spotted Orbweaver
Photos: 19
Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP on 2024-11-12
Johnston Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-03
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-03
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-18
Macon Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-18
Macon Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-15
Northampton Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-15
Northampton Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2022-10-25
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-09-14
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2022-04-22
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2022-04-22
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther on 2022-04-03
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-09-29
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-08-13
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-02-03
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2019-04-22
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2017-04-18
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2014-08-24
Surry Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: FKW on 2006-04-29
Gates Co.
Comment:
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