Taxonomy
Order: OPILIONESSuborder: EupnoiSuperfamily: PhalangioideaFamily: Sclerosomatidae Comments: Approximately 30 species in this genus have been identified as occurring in North America north of Mexico (Cokendolpher and Lee, 1993; Ingianni et al., 2011), with 16 recorded in North Carolina. However, the validity of several of these species is suspect, with several that will probably be determined to be synonyms of other species, e.g., davisi, speciosum, and zimmermani in North Carolina Burns et al., 2012; Shultz, 2018). According to Shultz (2018), moreover, recent phylogenetic studies indicate both that more species are waiting to be described and that the name Leiobunum may eventually be restricted to European species, requiring new generic names for most, if not all, of our species.Species Comment: Belongs to the Leiobunum Calcar Species Group as described by Ingianni et al. (2011), based on both male and female reproductive structures; further confirmed by genetic analysis (Burns et al., 2012). Other North Carolina species in this group include nigropalpi, euserratipalpe, and hoffmani.
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google , iNaturalist , Wikipedia , GBIF Technical Description: Ingianni et al. (2011); Shultz (2018)Comments: Males are light brown to golden yellow brown, with the dorsal surface finely granulate (Ingianni et al., 2011). The ocularium is reddish-brown bordered by a dark circumocular band. The abdomen is light brown with a faint saddle; the posterior is usually pointed. Palps and legs are generally dark brown to blackish. Females are highly variable in color.Total Length: 6-7 mm, males; 7-9 mm, females (Shultz, 2018)Adult ID: identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary infoStructural Features: The palps of the males are greatly inflated and have a distinctive large conical spur projecting ventrolaterally from the femur. These features of the palps distinguish this species from all others in this genus except for hoffmani, which also has robust, dark palpi with large spurs on the femur (Ingianni et al., 2011). In the northwest corner of North Carolina, where these two species overlap, identification of both males and females requires microscopic examination of the reproductive structures and other key characters. Females in general are best identified by their reproductive structures (see key in Ingianni et al.).
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Probably confined to the Mountains in North CarolinaCounty Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Adult phenology: Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Recorded at both high and low elevations in the Mountains. Habitats are mostly unrecorded but several records come from the Spruce-fir zone, including at Mt. Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain, Clingman's Dome, and Richland Balsam. Habitats at lower elevations may include cove forests. Observation Methods: Active diurnally and can be found by direct search of likely habitatsAbundance/Frequency:
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR] [S3S4]State Protection: Arachnids are not protected under state law, although permits are needed to collect them in State Parks and other public and private nature preservesComments: Not enough is yet known about its distribution, habitat associations, abundance, and population trends in North Carolina to accurately assess the conservation needs of this species.
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