Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Araneidae Members: NC Records

Cyclosa turbinata - humped trashline orbweaver

Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Araneidae                                                                                 
Comments: Cyclosa: From Greek - 'to move in a circle, circling spider', referring to the spinning of the web.
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bugguide; Prey discrimination by web-borne vibrations: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4599173?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents; Detritus stailimenta: http://www.americanarachnology.org/JoA_free/JoA_v4_n3/JoA_v4_p215.pdf; an examination of the structure and genitalia of Cyclose and Eustala: http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4314711#page/79/mode/1up
Comments: Variegated brown and white abdomen and brown cephalathorax. The end of the abdomen is extended into a variable lobe with a pair of anterior forward facing dorsal humps. Can be distinguished from C. cyclosa by the slightly smaller size and the presence of two forward facing humps near the wide part of the abdomen. Males with cephalathorax black, abdomen black with variable white spots, legs variable orange with single wide black bands on front pair of legs.
Total Length: Small, female total body length 3.3-5.2mm, male total body length 2.1-3.2mm
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Uncommon throughout North Carolina and all through the eastern United States. Males active in summer, females spring through summer in the north, all year in the south.
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: old field or forest edge at high elevations
Observation Methods: Visual observation.
Abundance/Frequency: Uncommon.
Silk / Web: Small orb web that usually has a line of accumulated debris, a trashline, placed vertically through the center on a band of silk. The debris includes the indigestible remains of prey and fragments of dry leaves. Sometimes the only the silk band/stalimentum is present or the webs is not decorated.
Predators: Hummingbirds and wasps.
Behavior: Spider sits beneath the debris line in perfect camouflage. Adult females attach their egg cases to the debris line, unlike C. cyclosa.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Cyclosa turbinata - humped trashline orbweaver

Photos: 18

Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock, Robert Emmott on 2024-08-28
Jackson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-08-10
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-08-10
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-08-10
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP on 2024-03-14
Harnett Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP on 2024-03-14
Harnett Co.
Comment: Male spm.
Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP on 2024-03-14
Harnett Co.
Comment: Inadvertent removal of leg LI while excising left palp provides a better view of eye arrangement, in situ right palp, and short chelicerae.		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-12-14
Surry Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-07-26
Alamance Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2021-07-26
Alamance Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Donald Zepp on 2020-06-28
Johnston Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2017-05-02
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2017-05-02
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2016-04-06
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2016-04-06
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2016-04-06
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2012-07-28
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: E. Corey, C. Helms, and M. Flanagan on 2006-10-12
Columbus Co.
Comment: