Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Agelenidae Members: NC Records

Agelenopsis naevia - a grass spider

Agelenopsis naeviaAgelenopsis naeviaAgelenopsis naeviaAgelenopsis naevia
Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Agelenidae                                                                                 
Comments: Agelenopsis naevia has a relatively stable taxonomic history, having been originallly described as Agelena naevia by Walckenaer, 1841. It changed names a few times in the 19th Century, but has been stable in Agelenopsis since 1941.
Species Comment: The 5 Agelenopsis species reported from NC "resemble each other closely in general appearance. Even in the same species there is much variation in size and some in depth of color. Our [five] known species can only be distinguished with certainty only by a comparison of the genitalia." (Kaston, 1948)

The NC species can, however, be distinguished with some accuracy by noting their differing habitats: A. naevia is usually found in open fields, on shrubs and bushes, as well as on stone walls, rock outcrops and along roads

Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Kaston, B. J. (1948). Spiders of Connecticut. Bulletin of the Connecticut State Geological and Natural History Survey 70: 1-874.
Comments: This is probably the most common as well as the largest and darkest of our 5 known NC Agelenopsis species. The abdomen is often brown and lacking distinct markings. It also often lacks the "V" shaped sternum markings and typically has an indistinct ventral abdominal band characteristic of some of our other species. It does usually have distinct annuli on the legs.
Total Length: Females 16-20mm; males 13-17mmAdult ID: identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info
Structural Features: Click to see a comparison of the genitalia of the 5 Agelenopsis species reported in NC
Structural photos
Agelenopsis naevia
Whitman-Zai, J., Francis, M., Geick, M. and Cushing, P. E. (2015). Revision and morphological phylogenetic analysis of the funnel web spider genus Agelenopsis (Araneae: Agelenidae). Journal of Arachnology 43: 1-25
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Agelenopsis naevia
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: road, rock outcrops, stone walls open fields, shrubs and bushes; funnel/sheet web
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency:
Silk / Web: Typically a slightly concave, horizontal sheet up to 3 feet across, and having at one end a tube that serves as a retreat for the web's denizen, and, the tube's being open at both ends, it also serves as an emergency exit. The webbing is not sticky: instead, the spider relies on its quickness to seize prey that falls or blunders onto its web.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
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State Protection:
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 Photo Gallery for Agelenopsis naevia - a grass spider

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

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14
Rowan Co.
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Recorded by: Nora Murdock, Robert Emmott on 2025-06-06
Haywood Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Nora Murdock, Robert Emmott on 2025-06-06
Haywood Co.
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Recorded by: Nora Murdock, Robert Emmott on 2025-06-06
Haywood Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-17
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-17
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-17
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-07
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-07
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-06-07
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-20
Richmond Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-20
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erin Fisher on 2023-09-25
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Erin Fisher on 2023-09-25
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Rodric on 2023-09-19
Davie Co.
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Recorded by: Rodric on 2023-09-19
Davie Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Rodric on 2023-09-19
Davie Co.
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Recorded by: Donald Zepp on 2023-09-01
Johnston Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J. Perry on 2023-08-23
Stokes Co.
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Recorded by: J. Mickey on 2023-08-10
Wilkes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2022-04-30
Rockingham Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2022-04-21
Halifax Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2021-09-27
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-04-06
Wayne Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-09-06
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-07-13
McDowell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2019-08-20
Stokes Co.
Comment: Male
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2019-06-01
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2016-06-03
Orange Co.
Comment: