Arachnids of North Carolina
Home Page
Common Spiders of NC
Recent Entries
Recent Account Updates
County Searches
General Search
Submit a Public Record
References
Maps
Checklist
NC Biodiversity Project
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
«
Home
»
View
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
Mecynogea lemniscata
- Basilica orbweaver
Eggs stacked vertically
Male
Taxonomy
Order:
ARANEAE
Infraorder:
Araneomorphae
Family:
Araneidae
Comments:
The latin name, lemniscata, meaning "hanging ribbons", appears to be descriptive of the eggsacs. The common name comes from the shape of the snare, resembling the domed ceilings inside some cathredrals
Species Comment:
Also called Basilica Spider. Formerly called Allepeira conferta.
Identification
Online Description/Photos:
BugGuide
Google
,
iNaturalist
,
Wikipedia
,
GBIF
Technical Description:
Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bugguide; https://www.hindawi.com/journals/psyche/1992/035716/abs/; https://www.jstor.org/stable/4220107?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00650327; http://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00025841/00001
Comments:
Abdomen is relatively long and shiny white with dark green, brown and yellow lines, and patches of red orange. Cephalathorax is brown with a black median stripe and margin. Legs are green. This species is larger and more boldly marked than Leucage species, and dome shaped web eliminates confusion.
Total Length:
Small, female total body length 6.0-9.0 mm, male total body length 5.0 - 6.9 mm.
Adult ID:
identifiable by photo
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments:
Common throughout North Carolina and the southeastern United States. Males mature in summer, female summer through Autumn.
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:
Forest understory, brush, down branches
Observation Methods:
Visual observation, sweep netting.
Abundance/Frequency:
Common.
Silk / Web:
Orb web built low in vegetation and branches, up to 1-2 meters off the ground. Web begins as an orb with raidal and spiral strands spaced so closely that is resembles fine mesh screen. The holes in the mesh are less than 1mm and almost square. This orb is held in a dome shape by fibers forming a tangle both above and below. The spider hangs upside down within the dome. Males also build a web close to the female and are much smaller. Female builds a vertical string of 5-10 rough edges gray spheroid egg sacs hanging above the web. Egg sacs are 3-4 mm in diameter and contain 8-30 eggs. Web is detached each evening and provide another layer of protection to egg sacs. Leucage webs are small horizontal orbs, Filmy Dome spider, Neriene radiata, does not have the pattern of radial and spiral silk. The horizontal, dome shape of their webs has caused some controversy as to what family this spider really belongs to, as webs like this are usually characteristic of spiders in the Linyphiidae family. Many orbweavers build the classic, vertical, spiraling webs that most picture when trying to imagine a spider web. However, morphology and behavior tend to place these spiders into the Araneidae family, and most researchers believe, nowadays, that the M. lemniscata web structure is simply a classic example of convergent evolution with the Linyphiidae family web structure.
Prey:
Beetles, flies, wasps and plant bugs. Sixteen discrete behavioral acts were identified in the predatory behavior of M. lemniscata 1.) Pluck. Rapid, longitudinal displacement of web radii with tarsi of legs I and sometimes II (= "jerk" sensu Lubin, 1980), or jerky movement of entire body to shake web; usually a response to prey movement, often as spider orients toward prey. 2.) Bite. Inserting chelicerae while holding prey with legs I-III and grasping web with legs IV. Bites may be single and sustained or repeated, brief, and in multiple locations. 3.) Wrap. Of two types: ao) Immobilization Wrap. Extensive swathing of prey at capture site, with wide ribbons of silk while using legs I-III or II-III to hold prey. Leg b.) Postimmobilization Wrap. Less extensive, methodical wrapping at hub where spider rotates prey with legs I-III and applies spinnerets directly to prey (="prey-rotation wrapping" sensu Robinson and Olazarri, 1971). 4.) Cut Out. Pedipalps and legs I sever and pull web silk from prey, then chelicerae and legs I remove entangled prey from web. 5.) Carry. Spider carries prey toward hub, either attached to silk strand and carried underneath body with one or both legs IV or carried in jaws. 6.) Attach. Spider attaches silk to web, often while manipulating prey, with spinnerets, by means of a dabbing motion to secure prey to web surface. 7.) Manipulate. Spider applies several short bites to prey while using pedipalps, legs I-III, and chelicerae to maneuver prey into feeding position. 8). Feed. Spider begins to feed after it plucks or tenses web with legs I-IV. Typical posture involves spider at hub, with legs I-IV on web surface and chelicerae embedded in prey (= "cruciform attitude" sensu Robinson and Olazarri, 1971). 1992] Willey, Johnson & Adler 163 9.) Interrupt. Defined as any break in predatory behavior caused by natural (e.g., wind, leaves hitting web) or unnatural (observer) disturbances. 10.) Reject. Spider drops prey from web prior to feeding. 11.) Rest. On web with legs I-IV contacting web, generally on hub but sometimes at prey capture site or in retreat. Females with egg sacs may have legs IV in contact with sacs. Alternatively, legs I-III may contact prey while legs IV contact web. 12.) Groom. Legs and palps passed between chelicerae. 13.) Shake. Violent, large amplitude, movements of web surface produced by legs I-II, often in response to prey trapped in barrier web above dome. 14.) Palpate. Pedipalps used to touch prey. 15.) Retreat. Spider moves away from prey to any location on web (usually hub) or drops off web. l6.) Cut Through. Spider severs hub silk with chelicerae and moves to barrier region of web.
Predators:
Found in mud dauber nests. Green Mantidfly, Zeugomantispa minuta, feed on eggs. Chalcid wasps in the genus Genus Tetrastichus, parasitize eggs. Egg suspension protects them from ants and terrestrial insect predators, but wasps, birds, aerial and climbing predators can still obtain.
Behavior:
Individuals will occasionally aggregate on trees or bushes, in areas with high prey density and numerous web support structures. Some will even share support lines, though they keep their own, individual retreats. It is likely that they do this to increase prey capture efficiency. Eggs hatch in 16 days and spend the next 290 days in the cocoon until the next spring when they emerge.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:
Photo Gallery for
Mecynogea lemniscata
- Basilica orbweaver
62 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-07-31
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2024-07-31
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-18
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-18
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-18
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-18
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-18
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-15
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-15
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-11
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-11
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-11
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-10
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-10
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-10
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-04
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-04
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-04
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-02
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-02
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-02
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-07-02
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-06-16
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-01-07
Wilson Co.
Comment: Bead-like egg sacs are characteristic of this species.
Recorded by: Donald Zepp on 2023-09-03
Harnett Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Donald Zepp on 2023-07-29
Johnston Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Travis McLain on 2023-07-21
Cleveland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-07-14
Hyde Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2023-04-26
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2023-04-26
Scotland Co.
Comment:
»
