Spiders of North Carolina

Order:
Scientific Name: Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

View	Araneidae Members:	NC Records
Araneus pegnia - Butterfly orbweaver

Male

Taxonomy

Order: ARANEAE

Infraorder: Araneomorphae

Family: Araneidae

Identification

Online Description/Photos:

BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIF

Technical Description: Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bugguide Kaston, B. J. (1948). Spiders of Connecticut. Bulletin of the Connecticut State Geological and Natural History Survey 70: 1-874.

Comments: Abdomen has distinctive four oval areas that vaguely resemble a pair of butterfly wings. These oval areas are usually pale, sometimes even pink in color. Behind these pale light spots on the abdomen are paired dark bands. The cephalathorax and legs are dull or yellow colored. The legs can be banded or plain. Gaddy noted in South Carolina A. pegnia on barrier islands had pink, white or yellowish, but inland species were yellow to gray.

Total Length: Small, female 3.5-8.2 mm, male 2.5-4.9 mm

Adult ID: identifiable by photo

Structural photos

Distribution in North Carolina

Comments: Statewide in North Carolina, more common in the coastal plain. Widespread throughout the eastern United States. Adults summer to fall though can be found any month of the year.
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: forest, shrubby areas, wet areas including bogs, buildings; in Rhododendron maximum
Observation Methods: Sweep net, beating.
Abundance/Frequency: Can be common.
Silk / Web: Individuals of A. pegnia build orb webs in shrubs on bogs and sim- ilar habitats. The orb is approximately 10 cm in diameter, has about 30 radii, and there may be an open sector in the upper half. There is a retreat, which is con- nected to the hub by a signal thread, and also a large, loose irregular ,mass of threads "similar to that in the web of Metepeira labyrinthea" (Kaston 1948).
Predators: Commonly preyed upon by mud dauber wasps.
Behavior: In evenings it builds a distinctive web in shrubs or low branches of trees, hiding in the retreat throughout the day. Web is similar to a labyrinth orbweaver, with both an orb and tangle web. The spider usually waits in its retreat, holding a telegraph line attached to the hub of the orb. The silk retreat is a relatively large tent.

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks:

State Protection:

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Araneus pegnia - Butterfly orbweaver
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn Buncombe Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Yancey Co. Comment: came to UV light and sheet
	Recorded by: John Petranka Stokes Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Hunter Phillips Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George Avery Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Pender Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Johnston Co. Comment: Overgrown site of nursing home demolished ca. 3 years prior. Female specimen beaten from low bushes.
	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Johnston Co. Comment: Overgrown site of nursing home demolished ca. 3 years prior. Female specimen beaten from low bushes.	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: Beaten from Osmanthus	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: Beaten from Osmanthus
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - on visitor center
	Recorded by: J. Wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - under visitor center overhang; There were probably more than 10, but I got tired of counting.	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - on ceiling of overhang behind visitor center
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - under back overhang of visitor center	Recorded by: FKW Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - Office
	Recorded by: J. Wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - beside the outside door to the classroom at the visitor center;measured 1cm including legs & 0.5 cm on body.	Recorded by: J. Wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - on visitor center overhang
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - on visitor center in same place as before	Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams New Hanover Co. Comment: CABE - Bio-blitz 2017
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Surry Co. Comment:

Araneus pegnia - Butterfly orbweaver

Photo Gallery for Araneus pegnia - Butterfly orbweaver