Arachnids of North Carolina
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Verrucosa arenata - an orb weaver     Araneidae Members: NC Records BugGuide Account Public View
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Distribution Records
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Vetting Levels
Adult phenology:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge

synonym
taxonomic_comments First described in 1833 as Epeira mexicana by Lucas, that name was sunk as nomen oblitum in 1976, so it took the specific epithet from Walckenaer in 1841, when he described it as E. arenata. It was moved to the genus Verrucosa by McCook in 1888.
species_comment Several regional, colloquial names have been used to describe this spider, including "triangulate orb weaver" and "arrowhead spider."
id_comments Quite readily identified by the triangular abdominal marking, which can be white, yellow, or even pink. There are tubercles at each anterior corner, and several smaller ones near the posterior end of this triangular area. The legs and cephalothorax may be tan, brown, or rusty red.
total_length Females 5-9.5mm; males 5.5-6mm
structural_features
silk_web A typical—but coarse—orb; atypically, the spider usually rests in it head upward. In open areas, the web is usually taken down during the day, but it has been observed intact and inhabited by the spider during daytime hours in dark or heavily shaded areas.
fld_guide_descriptions
online_photos
prey
predators
behavior
distribution_reference Bradley, Richard A. 2013. Common Spiders of North America. 1st Edition. University of California Press; Berkley & Los Angeles, California, USA. p. 102.
technical_reference Levi, H. W. (1976). The orb-weaver genera Verrucosa, Acanthepeira, Wagneriana, Acacesia, Wixia, Scoloderus and Alpaida north of Mexico. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 147: p. 358.
adult_id 1 identifiable by photo 2 identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info 3 identifiable from specimen only
abundance Fairly common in the mountains and Piedmont--less so in the Coastal Plain.
distribution_comments Eastern deciduous forests, gardens, suburban plantings.
checklist_mt_high
>=4,000 ft.
Regular
Frequent
Infrequent
Occasional
Seldom
Frequency
checklist_mt_low
<4,000 ft.
Regular
Frequent
Infrequent
Occasional
Seldom
checklist_pd
Piedmont
Regular
Frequent
Infrequent
Occasional
Seldom
checklist_cp
Coastal Plain
Regular
Frequent
Infrequent
Occasional
Seldom
habitat forest edge, forest
observation_methods
state_protection
NHP_ranks
NHP_status
status_comments

Photo Gallery for Verrucosa arenata an orb weaver

Recorded by: Julia Tennant
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
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Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
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Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment: Resting on the side of my house.
Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
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Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Mitchell Co.
Comment: Female, white is rarer opisthosoma color, usually yellow.
Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
Comment: A different specimen of Verrucosa Arenata from any I have previously submitted.
Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
Comment: A different specimen of Verrucosa Arenata from any I have previously submitted.
Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
Comment: A different specimen of Verrucosa Arenata from any I have previously submitted.
Recorded by: Lisa Motley
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Lisa Motley
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Rowan Co.
Comment: Male,quite unique opisthosoma.
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Rowan Co.
Comment: Male,quite unique opisthosoma.
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Rowan Co.
Comment: Male,quite unique opisthosoma.
Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
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Recorded by: David George
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
Comment: This is a re-submission of my previous entry, cropped tighter to better illustrate the subject.
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: J. Mickey
Wilkes Co.
Comment: REMO - Along Amadahy Waterfalls Trail @ -81.303401, 36.221785
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: All 3 females had yellow opisthosomas.
Recorded by: Terrell Tucker
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 1 female had white abdomen, other 3 had a yellow abdomen.
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 1 female had white abdomen, other 3 had a yellow abdomen.
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Rutherford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: S. Erickson, T. Harris, K. Bischof
Transylvania Co.
Comment: GORG - Obs. ranger residence. UV Light.
Recorded by: Donald Zepp
Harnett Co.
Comment: Orb web along trail edge
Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: David George
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Kim STONE & Donald ZEPP
Franklin Co.
Comment: In bucket of stones
Recorded by: Rusty James
Cumberland Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: H. Quay
Orange Co.
Comment: OCMO - Near larger pond @ -79.115815, 36.06102
Recorded by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-22)
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Granville Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Granville Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: J. Thomson
Orange Co.
Comment: OCMO - on path to ponds
Recorded by: J. Thomson
Orange Co.
Comment: OCMO - on path to ponds
Recorded by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Stokes Co.
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Recorded by: C. Bennett, P. Wurtz
Iredell Co.
Comment: LANO
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: K. Sanford
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: J.Williams
Vance Co.
Comment: KELA
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in leaf on visitor center path
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - Bennett's Creek Trail
Recorded by: j.wyche, n.dominick
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - Lassiter Trail b/t visitor center & picnic area
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in the vicinity of the north boundary
Recorded by: J. Mickey
Wilkes Co.
Comment: STMO - Combs Knob area. @ -81.031873, 36.367672
Recorded by: K. Bischof
McDowell Co.
Comment: LAJA - Obs. ranger residence, NC HWY 126.
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - boundary line b/t Millpond Rd. & Silver Springs Rd.
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - sw park, off Silver Springs Rd.
Recorded by: J. Wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - on Lassiter Hiking Trail, b/t visitor center & Millpond Rd.
Recorded by: K. Bischof
Transylvania Co.
Comment: GORG - Obs. on the north bank of Rock Creek, .2 miles east of the Foothills Trail Bridge.
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: T. DeSantis
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW - Behind maintenance building
Recorded by: R. Preston
Chatham Co.
Comment: JORD
Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: SBW, FKW
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - Common in wooded areas.
Recorded by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
Comment: