Spiders of North Carolina

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

View	Araneidae Members:	NC Records
Larinia directa - an orbweaver

Taxonomy

Order: ARANEAE

Infraorder: Araneomorphae

Family: Araneidae

Identification

Online Description/Photos:	BugGuide, Google Images, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIF	Technical Description: Spiders of North America - Bradley; Bugguide
Comments: Abdomen long and slender, tan to orangeish in color with a series of longitudinal stripes. There are usually two rows of five or six small dark spots. On the underside of the abdomen there is a light median stripe with black stripes on either side. Some forms can be boldly marked in orange, light almost white, gray and may show a dark stripe on dorsal surface of abdomen. Cephalathorax and legs can be the same color with fine sparse hairs. Males are similar with a shorter but still narrow abdomen, with light colored legs covered in black speckles. Immature's can be a pale dull gray, with distinct leg setae. The somewhat similar marsh orbweaver (Neoscona pratensis) has shorter legs and an abdomen that is not as thin. Larinia has an abdomen that is about three times as long as wide. Longjawed orbweavers (Tetragnatha) also have long abdomens but they have distinctive large protruding jaws. Slender Crab Spiders, genus Tibellus roost similarly but legs are stretched straight forward and not folded.
Total Length: Small, female total body length 4.8-11.7 mm, male total body length 4.5-6.5 mm	Adult ID: identifiable by photo

Distribution in North Carolina

Comments: Uncommon throughout most of North Carolina and the southern United States and as far north as the mid Atlantic. Males spring through fall, females all 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: old field, grasslands, open country.
Observation Methods: Visual observation, sweep netting.
Abundance/Frequency: Uncommon.
Silk / Web: Small oblique orb web built low in grasses and herbaceous plants.
Prey: Small invetebrates.
Behavior: Rests in curled leaves with legs spread forward and backward in a narrow tuck. When threatened it may run to side of web and hang vertically with two front pair of legs folded and pointing forward, and rear legs spread out, in order to narrow and distort it's image.

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks:

State Protection:

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Larinia directa - an orbweaver
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: body 10 mm, found indoors	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: body 10 mm, found indoors
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: body 10 mm, found indoors	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: John Petranka Orange Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey
	Recorded by: John Petranka Orange Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Burke Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Halifax Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Wake Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Granville Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Surry Co. Comment:

Photo Gallery for Larinia directa - an orbweaver