Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Araneidae Members: NC Records

Acanthepeira cherokee - an orbweaver

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Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Araneidae                                                                                 
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bugguide
Comments: Abdomen shape with 10-12 rounded points along the edge. Coloration typcially reddish orange, but likely variable. Usually a dark area throughout the middle portion of the abdomen. The frontal spike hanging over the cephalothorax can have two white lines that form a long peak. Rear spike can be darker. Cephalothorax color varies like the abdomen, legs can be banded in either sex. Male has similar markings and coloration but with a smaller abdomen. Body is covered in hairlike setae. Lateral eyes are on a pointed tubercle. In retreat often folds legs in front to a point. It is exceedingly difficult to separate some Acanthepeira specimens from the southeastern United States and it appears that three species interbreed. A. cherokee - Females (8.5-10.5 mm) may differ from other species in this genus by having smaller/less distinct abdominal humps. Males (6.5-11 mm) have 4th coxa without tubercle. Habitat is moist bottomland woods. A. marion - Females (10-15.5 mm) easily recognized by rounded humps. Males (7-10.5 mm) have 4th coxa with tubercle. A. stellata - Females (7-15 mm) Larger than venusta, more rounded, darker, deeply colored abdomen. Of the 4 species this is the only one which has AMEs smaller than secondary eyes. Female scape can be variable, esp. those from FL. Males (5-8 mm) have 4th coxa with tubercle and retrolateral macrosetae of fourth femur about equal in size. A. venusta - Females (6-10 mm) Can be distinguished by smaller size, narrow abdomen & lighter less contrasting pattern. This is the only species that might have ventral white marks. It might have a white transverse mark or two white spots behind the genital groove. Males (5-7.5 mm) have 4th coxa without tubercle.
Total Length: Small to medium size spider, Female total body length 8.3-10.4 mm, Male total body length 6.5-10.9 mm.Adult ID: identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Probably more common in the Piedmont and coastal plain, scattered records throughout the southeast. Eggs hatch in July and overwinter as subadults. Adults mature in spring and early summer.
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: Likely the same as others in the genus, old fields, grasslands, sand dune vegetation, meadows, forest under story, structures and occasionally in trees.
Observation Methods: Collected by sweep netting or visual surveys.
Abundance/Frequency: Occassional
Silk / Web: 6-10" orb web in vegetation up to four feet in height.
Prey: Preys on grasshopper nymphs and other medium sized insects including a rare occurrence of a green tree frog.
Behavior: Likely the same as others in the genus, Nocturnal but not strictly, builds a 6-10" orb web in vegetation up to four feet in height. Female spends the night in hub of web facing down. Easily disturbed it can drop from web to disappear in vegetation or to feign death. During the day it rests in a retreat. Egg sacs are a loose brown silk mass attached to a leaf.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Acanthepeira cherokee - an orbweaver

Photos: 2

Recorded by: Robert Emmott on 2023-04-16
Haywood Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Robert Emmott on 2023-04-16
Haywood Co.
Comment: