Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Lycosidae Members: NC Records

Pirata aspirans - a pirate wolf spider

Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Lycosidae                                                                                 
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIF
Comments: Description of male .—From the E. S . George Reserve, Livingston Co ., Michigan, VIII-3-51, H.K .W. 1448 . Carapace 2.07 mm long, 1 .55 mm wide, with a wide marginal light area and the usual tuning-fork pattern . Dorsum heavily pigmented, with narrow light colored area over the heart and four pairs of patches of white scales . Coxae and endite s light, without pigment, sternum and labium lightly pigmented ; venter with irregular patches of pigment . Anterior eye row narrower than median row, slightly procurved ; the anterior median eyes twice as large as laterals, closer to laterals than to each other . Clypeus height equal t o diameter of anterior lateral eye . Lower margin of furrow of checlicerae armed with thre e unequal teeth, the middle tooth the largest, the lateral the smallest, the middle tooth closer to the lateral than to the median . Legs 4123, banded. Tibia I with seven ventral and lateral spines . Tibia II with eight ventral and lateral spines. For palpus see Fig . 58 . Description of female .—Same data as male . Carapace 2 .20 mm long, 1 .58 mm wide , with a wide marginal light area and tuning fork pattern ; color and pattern as in the mal e (Figs. 56-57). Eye arrangement and dentition of chelicerae as in the male . Epigynum (Fig . 60) . Legs 4123, faintly banded. Tibia I with six ventral and lateral spines. Tibia II with five ventral and lateral spines.
Total Length: Male Carapace 2.07 mm long, 1 .55 mm wide, female Carapace 2 .20 mm long, 1 .58 mm wide.
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Northeastern United States and Canada, east of the Dakotas, south to Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. Washington, D.C.
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)

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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: old field, roadside vegetation, swamps, bogs, ponds and marshes.
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency: Summer. Males have been taken from May into August but most from June and July . The earliest record of a female is from April, none in May and three from September . Most of the records are from June, July and August . Females with egg sacs have been taken in June, July and August.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Pirata aspirans - a pirate wolf spider

Photos: 3

Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-08-06
Caldwell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-08-27
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-08-04
Surry Co.
Comment: