Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Araneidae Members: NC Records

Araniella displicata - Sixspotted orbweaver

Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Araneidae                                                                                 
Species Comment: Latin for "scattered, dispersed"
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Spiders of North America - Bradley; Bugguide
Comments: Rounded oval abdomen is yellowish or white in most forms, but also red, orange or pink forms and mottling. All forms show a series of six black spots on back of abdomen, largest towards the rear. The spots are ringed in pale orange or yellow. Unbanded legs and cephalothorax are yellow, orange or reddish. Legs and palps covered in dark setae. Males reddish or light orange with reduced mottling, smaller abdomen and retaining black spots.
Total Length: Small, Female total body length 4.8-7.2 mm, Male total body length 4.0-5.0 mm.Adult ID: identifiable by photo
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Found throughout North Carolina, US and Canada. One of the most widespread spiders in all of North America. Overwinter as subadults and mature in spring and early summer when mating occurs. Egg sac contains an average of 80 eggs and is covered in loose fluffy, yellowish silk. Egg sac is placed in a curled leaf that also serves as the mother's retreat at the end of the web.
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: tall grasses, shrubs, old fields, under story and low shrubs in forests.
Observation Methods: Visual surveys, sweep nets or beat sheets.
Abundance/Frequency: Infrequent
Silk / Web: Small orb web, 3-4 inches in diameter.
Prey: Preys upon longlegged flies or other insects that walk across the surface of leaves.
Behavior: Small web three to four inches, often spanning just one leaf suspended near the tip of a conifer branch up to six feet off the ground. Web is sometimes built on the horizontal plane where it hands underneath, where vertical hangs facing down. Can be found in the center of the web during the day.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
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State Protection:
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 Photo Gallery for Araniella displicata - Sixspotted orbweaver

Photos: 20

Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-10-06
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-07-17
Ashe Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-07-16
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-06-26
Henderson Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-06-07
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-05-21
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-18
Davie Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-18
Davie Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-05-10
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-10
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-10
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-06-06
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2020-06-18
Clay Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, Kyle Kittelberger on 2020-06-03
Alleghany Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2019-06-03
Alleghany Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2019-06-01
Stokes Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2015-10-05
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2015-06-18
Watauga Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2015-05-19
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2014-05-20
Surry Co.
Comment: