Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Lycosidae Members: NC Records

Piratula minuta - a pirate wolf spider

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Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: LycosidaeSynonym: Piratula minuta                                                                                 
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIF
Comments: Male carapace dusky, with no tuning-fork pattern, lighter in front of cervical groove and along margins of carapace, but not presenting a distinct marginal light area sharply set off from the sides of the carapace . Dorsum dusky with pale hastate mark and indistinct paired spots posteriorly . Anterior eye row narrower than the posterior median row, procurved ; anterior median eyes larger than anterior laterals, anterior eyes about equally spaced . Ventral surface unmarked except for medial longitudinal light stripe on sternum . Lowe r margin of furrow of chelicerae with three teeth ; however, the tooth nearest the base o f the fang is so small that under medium magnification only two teeth are visible . Legs 4123, unbanded ; femora I and II slightly darker than the other segments of the legs. Description of female .—From Livingston Co ., Michigan. Carapace 1 .55 mm long, 1 .0 7 mm wide ; sides dusky with a narrow marginal light area, the tuning-fork pattern faint o n head region ; a triangular dark spot in front of cervical groove with its apex at the groove . Dorsum mottled with five pairs of white spots that look like they were covered with white scales in life . Venter, coxae, labium, endites yellow; sternum with a median longitudinal light stripe . Lower margin of furrow of chelicerae with three teeth ; however, th e tooth next to the base of the fang is so small that under medium magnification only tw o teeth are visible . Anterior eye row straight, narrower than the posterior median row; anterior median eyes are twice as large as the anterior laterals ; the anterior eyes are equally spaced . Clypeus receding, equal in height to the diameter of an anterior media n eye. Legs 4123, dusky
Total Length: Male Carapace 1 .45 mm long, 1 .00 mm wide, female
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Northeastern United States and Canada ; south to North Carolina, west to Minnesota
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, forests, wet areas, margins of ponds
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency: Adult males and females are present in the northeastern states from May through September; in Canada from June through September . Females with egg sacs are present from June through September . "This species apparently overwinters half-grown , and matures in late May and early June"
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
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