Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Agelenopsis utahana - 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 utahana has enjoyed a relatively stable taxonomic history since having been originally described as Agelena utahana by Chamberlin & Ivie, 1933. It 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. utahana is usually found in deep woods, the forest edge, tree stumps or on forest floor vegetation.

id_comments

This is a yellow to reddish brown species, not as dark as A. naevia (q.v.). Both the sternal "V" mark and the ventral abdominal band are faintly—if at all—indicated.

total_length

Females 9-12mm; males 8-10mm

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/observations?taxon_id=153497

prey

predators

behavior

distribution_reference

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

Found in northern climes: Note iNaturalist collections from MN, and northern Canada.

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

deep woods, forest edge; forest floor vegetation or tree stumps; funnel/sheet web

observation_methods

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Agelenopsis utahana a grass spider
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Jim Petranka Mitchell Co. Comment: Mature male, collected.	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Jim Petranka Mitchell Co. Comment: Mature male, collected.
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger, Jim Petranka, and Becky Elkin Mitchell Co. Comment: Male\r\nWeb in Carex pennsylvanica leaves.	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Chatham Co. Comment: White Pines Survey
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Polk Co. Comment: OVVI Overmountain Victory Trail	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Buncombe Co. Comment: Funnel web in low brush on road edge in dense forest
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Durham Co. Comment:

Photo Gallery for Agelenopsis utahana a grass spider