Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Sclerosomatidae Members: NC Records

Leiobunum flavum Banks, 1894 - No Common Name


Leiobunum flavumLeiobunum flavumLeiobunum flavum
Taxonomy
Order: OPILIONESSuborder: EupnoiSuperfamily: PhalangioideaFamily: Sclerosomatidae                                                                                 
Comments: Approximately 30 species in this genus have been identified as occurring in North America north of Mexico (Cokendolpher and Lee, 1993; Ingianni et al., 2011), with 16 recorded in North Carolina. However, the validity of several of these species is suspect, with several that will probably be determined to be synonyms of other species, e.g., davisi, speciosum, and zimmermani in North Carolina Burns et al., 2012; Shultz, 2018). According to Shultz (2018), moreover, recent phylogenetic studies indicate both that more species are waiting to be described and that the name Leiobunum may eventually be restricted to European species, requiring new generic names for most, if not all, of our species.
Species Comment: Placed in the Early-season Leiobunum Species Group by Burns et al. (2012) based on its overwintering as a juvenile as well as by genetic analysis. In North Carolina, this groups also includes L. vetricosum and verrucosum.
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Davis (1934); Shultz (2018)
Comments: Dorsum golden to golden-brown, usually with no strong markings; in early spring, individuals may have a long, narrow central figure, but this is usually reduced to a couple of broken traces later on (Shultz, 2018). Ocular tubercle is brown with a dark ring around each eye, sometimes darker dorsally (Davis, 1934). Venter concolorous with or a little lighter than dorsum. Legs (excepting coxae) are concolorous with dorsum; palps are brown or yellow.
Total Length: 5.5–6.5 mm, males; 8–10 mm, females (Shultz, 2018)Adult ID: identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info
Structural Features: Males with abdomen truncate or bluntly rounded, compared to pointed in the otherwise similar ventricosum. Dorsal surface of abdomen nearly flat, very few or no tubercles present (Davis, 1934). Shultz noted in the Harvestmen of Maryland website that the metapeltidium is separated from the rest of the carapace and abdomen by fairly broad membranes. Male and female reproductive structures are diagnostic (see Davis, 1934; Shultz, 2018).
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Orginally recorded in North Carolina in the Swannanoa River Valley near Black Mountain. Recently, the species has been reported from Orange County in the Piedmont
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Leiobunum flavum
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: In Maryland, this species reportedly occurs in and near wooded areas (Shultz, 2018). The record from Orange County comes from a semi-wooded residential neighborhood with remnants of the original native vegetation still present.
Observation Methods: Should be looked for in the spring (April and May)
Abundance/Frequency: We currently have too few records from North Carolina to judge its frequency of occurrence or abundance
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR] [S3S4]
State Protection: Arachnids are not protected under state law, although permits are needed to collect them in State Parks and other public and private nature preserves
Comments: This species appears to occur widely across the state, from the Blue Ridge to the eastern Piedmont. Its habitat does not appear to be restricted.

 Photo Gallery for Leiobunum flavum - No common name

Photos: 11

Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-05-10
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2022-06-28
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-09-02
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-09-02
Orange Co.
Comment: Male
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-08-05
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-07-04
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-06-24
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2019-06-26
Orange Co.
Comment: Adult female, 10 mm TL; collected
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2019-06-26
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2019-06-26
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: J. Needham on 2015-06-04
Stokes Co.
Comment: