Arachnids of North Carolina
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View SCYTODIDAE Members: NC Records

Scytodes atlacoya Rheims, Brescovit, & Durán-Barrón 2007 - a spitting spider

Scytodes atlacoyaScytodes atlacoyaScytodes atlacoyaScytodes atlacoya
Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: ARANEOMORPHAEFamily: SCYTODIDAE                                                                                 
Comments: New species described by Rheims, Brescovit & Durán-Barrón, 2007
Species Comment: Synanthropic
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Rheims, C. A., Brescovit, A. D. & Durán-Barrón, C. G. (2007). Mexican species of the genus Scytodes Latreille (Araneae, Scytodidae). Revista Ibérica de Aracnología 13: 93-119 Suter, R.B. and G.E. Stratton (2009). Spitting performance parameters and their biomechanical implications in the spitting spider, Scytodes thoracica. Journal of Insect Science: Vol. 9, Article 62.
Comments: Cephalothorax light tan, with darker tan or light brown "chain" pattern. Abdomen tan to light grey, often "leopard-spotted." Occasionally the spots coalesce into small stripes or bands. Female genitalia must be dissected for certain determination; palps of NC scytodid species males are distinctive--specimens can be readily determined with a hand lens.
Total Length: males: 5-9mm, females 7-10mm Adult ID: identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info
Structural Features: A guide to help distinguish between Scytodes atlacoya and S. longipes in NC
Structural photos
Scytodes atlacoya
A Brunswick Co. spm (coll. M.A. BASINGER) not figured below, but retained as voucher.
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: The spider was described from northeastern Mexico, and not surprisingly in Texas. It seems to have spread far more widely than thought, and has been previously found in the Gulf states, and up into Georgia. A 2012 blog post from SC clearly shows S. atlacoya, and I have seen many other photos of what I am sure to be this species misidentified. Photos of a population identified by a clear view of the male palpi have been found as far north as Portsmouth, VA. --dbz
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Scytodes atlacoya
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: Synanthropic; indoors and out. Found behind bark, in pile of firewood, and taken by "beating" ornamental shrubbery (--dbz).
Observation Methods: Frequently seen at night on exterior door frames and window screens.
Abundance/Frequency: Unknown
Silk / Web: Small, random, disorganized, not usually for capture.
Prey: Soft bodied insects; other spiders.
Predators: Other spiders
Behavior: Nocturnal hunter that lies in wait with its long legs extended, either in a small web of its construction, in another species' web, or with no web at all. Vision is poor, so vibration and touch are important. Potential prey is spat on to "glue" it down, and a nip of a leg or other vulnerable spot renders the prey helpless. Using its remarkably small fangs, the spider liquifies-- and subsequently pumps out--the prey's contents.

During the day, it may remain exposed to finish eating larger prey, it may take smaller prey to a regular hiding spot, or simply return there empty um... "tarsied." Hiding locations have been observed to be used by the same spider for weeks and then, for no apparent reason, abandoned for another spot usually nearby.

S. atlacoya has been observed engaging in aggressive mimicry by tweaking the lines of Parasteatoda tepidariorum and Steatoda grossa webs to entice their denizens close enough to subdue and eat.


As they do enter other species' webs, it is not surprising that they often become the victims themselves. (non-published observations--dbz)


Females carry very loosely bound egg sac of 50± eggs in its chelicerae until spiderlings hatch and, ca. 1 week later, leave the egg sac. Spiderlings and mother frequently stay together, and can be found in the same webbing for weeks or longer.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
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 Photo Gallery for Scytodes atlacoya - a spitting spider

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

Recorded by: Bryan Eddy on 2024-05-24
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-07
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-07
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Terrell Tucker on 2024-01-27
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: Terrell Tucker on 2024-01-27
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-27
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-30
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-09-16
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Tobias Crosariol on 2022-04-11
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tobias Crosariol on 2022-04-11
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2021-10-04
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2021-10-04
Moore Co.
Comment: The "spit" visible here has been shown to be a mix of a "glue," venom, and silk(!) all created in the venom glands. (Suter & Stratton, 2009)
Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2021-10-04
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian WAGONER & Donald ZEPP on 2021-08-20
Cumberland Co.
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Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2021-06-27
Sampson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Donald ZEPP on 2021-03-26
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2021-03-24
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-03-24
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-03-24
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Donald ZEPP on 2021-03-21
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Donald Zepp on 2021-02-24
Johnston Co.
Comment: Female hunting on window screen in February (Johnston Co.).		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-11-03
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-11-03
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-11-03
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2020-08-17
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Donald ZEPP on 2020-06-17
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Donald ZEPP on 2020-06-17
Johnston Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Donald ZEPP on 2020-06-17
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Donald ZEPP on 2019-05-29
Johnston Co.
Comment: The first NC record for the species, shown here in a typical resting position, especially for males such as this.		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2018-10-24
Onslow Co.
Comment: