Arachnids of North Carolina
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View Araneidae Members: NC Records

Mangora placida - tuftlegged orbweaver

Taxonomy
Order: ARANEAEInfraorder: AraneomorphaeFamily: Araneidae                                                                                 
Species Comment: Feminine form of Placidus, Latin for "placid, gentle, quiet, still, calm, mild, peaceful"
Identification
Online Description/Photos: BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIFTechnical Description: Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bugguide
Comments: Abdomen is pale with a dark area in the center, widening towards the rear. There are two rows of three black or dark brown spots along the edge of the dark folium on the abdomen. There is usually a pair of white spots near the widest part of the folium. In some individuals the folium is pale. Cephalothorax and legs are pale brown. The spiders in the genus Mangora have tufts of long, thin sensory hair (trichobothria) on the front edge of the tibiae of leg III.
Total Length: Very small, female total body length 2.3-4.5 mm, male total body length 2.0-2.8 mm.Adult ID: identifiable by photo
Structural photos
Distribution in North Carolina
Comments: Common throughout North Carolina and the eastern United States. Adults spring and summer, young are common in fall and overwinter to mature the following spring.
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: Low understory vegetation of deciduous forests, fields and tall grasses.
Observation Methods: Visual observation, sweep netting.
Abundance/Frequency: Common.
Silk / Web: Very small orb, finely meshed. This fine mesh allows them to collect small flying insects.
Prey: Small flying insects including pollinators.
Behavior: One of the most common spiders in understory vegetation in eastern deciduous forests.
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
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State Protection:
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 Photo Gallery for Mangora placida - tuftlegged orbweaver

84 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-03
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-09-21
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-09-05
Henderson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-08-14
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-08-14
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-08-14
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-05
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-07-24
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: Steven Acesta on 2024-06-08
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-06-07
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-05-25
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-05-21
Macon Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-20
Montgomery Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-20
Richmond Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-18
Catawba Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-18
Davie Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-13
Burke Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-13
McDowell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2024-04-18
Greene Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP on 2024-04-18
Lenoir Co.
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Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP on 2024-04-18
Lenoir Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-04-16
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-06
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-06
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-15
Bertie Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-15
Bertie Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-15
Hertford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-15
Martin Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-03-15
Northampton Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp on 2024-03-14
Harnett Co.
Comment: