Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Agelenopsis pennsylvanica - a grass spider Agelenidae Members:			NC Records	BugGuide Account	Public View

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Distribution Records
PDF

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

Agelenopsis pennsylvanica has enjoyed a relatively stable taxonomic history since having been originally described as Agelena pennsylvanica by C.L. Koch, 1843. It changed names a few times in the 19th Century, but has remained in Agelenopsis since 1941.

species_comment

The 5 Agelenopsis species reported from NC "resemble each other closely in general appearance. Even in the same species there is much variation in size and some in depth of color. Our [five] known species can only be distinguished with certainty only by a comparison of the genitalia." (Kaston, 1948)

The NC species can, however, be distinguished with some accuracy by noting their differing habitats: A. pennsylvanica is usually found in old fields, meadows, grassy areas, and occasionally in open woods and on human structures.

id_comments

This is the grayist of our 5 known NC species. The abdomen is often a variegated brown, with a lighter, often rusty-colored central band distinct markings. Has a distinct, dusky "V" shaped sternum marking and a broad, dark ventral abdominal band darker than those of our other species.

total_length

Females 10-17mm; males 9-12mm

structural_features

Click to see a comparison of the genitalia of the 5 Agelenopsis species reported in NC

silk_web

Typically a slightly concave, horizontal sheet, and having at one end a tube that serves as a retreat for the web's denizen; the tube's being open at both ends, it also serves as an emergency exit. The webbing is not sticky: instead, the spider relies on its quickness to seize prey that falls or blunders onto its web.

fld_guide_descriptions

online_photos

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/143215-Agelenopsis-pennsylvanica

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. pp 65-66.

technical_reference

Kaston, B. J. (1948). Spiders of Connecticut. Bulletin of the Connecticut State Geological and Natural History Survey 70: 1-874.

adult_id

1 identifiable by photo 2 identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info 3 identifiable from specimen only

abundance

distribution_comments

Widespread through northern states, less common in the south.

checklist_mt_high
>=4,000 ft.

Regular	Frequent	Infrequent	Occasional	Seldom	Frequency Regular – almost always observed on given visit; >=90% chance of observation Frequent – usually observed on a given visit; >=50%<90% chance of observation Infrequent – observed less than 50% of visits; >=25%<50% chance of observation Occasional – observed on only on a small minority of visits; >=10%<25% chance of observation Seldom – not usually seen on visits; <10% chance of observation These terms refer to visits to appropriate habitats made at appropriate times of the year, making use of common sampling/observation methods. Under those conditions, Frequency refers to the chance of observing at least one individual on a given visit made anywhere within a particular region, or over multiple visits to a single site.

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

old field, meadows, grassy areas, occasionally in open woods and on human structures; funnel/sheet web

observation_methods

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Agelenopsis pennsylvanica a grass spider
	Recorded by: Steven Acesta Forsyth Co. Comment: A specimen not previously submitted	Recorded by: Steven Acesta Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steven Acesta Forsyth Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Steven Acesta Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steven Acesta Forsyth Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Steven Acesta Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Mitchell Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Mitchell Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Rowan Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Terrell Tucker Moore Co. Comment: Individuals were found in funnel shaped webs in the saplings of Wax myrtle trees.	Recorded by: Angel Hamby Alexander Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Angel Hamby Alexander Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Hyde Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Buncombe Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Rowan Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Granville Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Orange Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Durham Co. Comment: Fairly close to a UV sheet for attracting moths
	Recorded by: B. McRae Swain Co. Comment:	Recorded by: B. McRae Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, Kyle Kittelberger Moore Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Alleghany Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams Gates Co. Comment: MEMI	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Iredell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stanly Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Watauga Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J.Phillips Wake Co. Comment: WIUM	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment:

Photo Gallery for Agelenopsis pennsylvanica a grass spider