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
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-
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Dysderidae Members:
Dysdera crocata
Dysdera unidentified species
NC
Records
Dysdera crocata
- Woodlouse Hunter
Taxonomy
Order:
ARANEAE
Infraorder:
Araneomorphae
Family:
Dysderidae
Comments:
Dysdera crocata Koch, 1838 is one of 578 species of dysderid spiders at this writing (Jan 2021) but the only one in the USA.
Species Comment:
This species (and family) is well known for preying on the Oniscidea, or "woodlice," "sowbugs," "pillbugs," "Roly-polys," etc.).
Identification
Online Description/Photos:
BugGuide
Google
,
iNaturalist
,
Wikipedia
,
GBIF
Technical Description:
Ubick, D., Paquin, P., Cushing, P.E., and Roth, V., (eds). 2017. Spiders of North America: an identification manual, 2nd Edition. American Arachnological Society, Keene, New Hampshire, USA.
Comments:
A light- to dark-red cephalothorax with prominently protruding chelicerae bearing seriously substantial fangs make this six-eyed spider easy to ID. The abdomen is a soft grey or buff color having no distinct markings. Only one other spider of similar coloration and size comes to mind that might be confused with D. crocata, viz. Trachelas tranquillus, but T. tranquillus not only has 8 eyes, but lacks D. crocata's remarkable chelicerae and fangs.
Total Length:
females 11-15mm, males 9-10mm
Adult ID:
identifiable by photo
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments:
Widely distributed in North America
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:
Under rocks, logs, in duff
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency:
Prey:
Oniscidea
Behavior:
These spiders approach their prey slowly and then, twisting their bodies, grab the victim with one fang underneath and one on top. The lower fang pieces the soft underbelly, while the top fang holds the prey in place. They do not macerate their prey, but suck it dry, leaving the empty carcass behind.
They are commonly found in duff or under wood or rocks where sowbugs might be found.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:
Photo Gallery for
Dysdera crocata
- Woodlouse Hunter
Photos: 6
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2022-09-16
McDowell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Donald Zepp on 2021-04-04
Johnston Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Donald Zepp on 2021-04-04
Johnston Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-09-23
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2020-03-14
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2020-03-14
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
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