Arachnids of North Carolina
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Neoscona arabesca - Arabesque orbweaver

Neoscona arabescaNeoscona arabescaNeoscona arabescaNeoscona arabescaNeoscona arabesca
Male
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
Neoscona arabesca
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.
Neoscona arabesca
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
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Neoscona arabesca - Arabesque orbweaver

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

Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-08-31
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Terrell Tucker on 2025-08-04
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-08-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-20
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-07-18
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-07-17
Haywood Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Terrell Tucker on 2025-07-10
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Terrell Tucker on 2025-06-30
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Nora Murdock, Marilyn Westphal on 2025-06-22
Haywood Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2025-06-11
Edgecombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2025-06-11
Edgecombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2025-06-11
Edgecombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-03
Currituck Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-03
Currituck Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-02
Currituck Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-05-30
Currituck Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2025-05-08
Nash Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2025-05-08
Nash Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2025-05-08
Nash Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2025-05-08
Nash Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-26
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-26
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-22
Franklin Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-06
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-05
Lee Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-25
Bladen Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-23
Duplin Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-23
Johnston Co.
Comment: