Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Anyphaena celer - a ghost spider Anyphaenidae 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

Sundevall erected the genus Anyphaena in 1833 based on the Greek word meaning to "weave anew"; however, he using the wrong dipthong: æ instead of œ. The specific epithet, "celer" is Latin, meaning "swift." And boy howdy, the anyphaenid spiders are swift (if not weavers). The taxonomic name has remained relatively stable for nearly 100 years. As is true for other anyphaenid spiders, A. celer does not make a capture web, but is a fast-running species that actively hunts for its prey.

species_comment

id_comments

Femora LIII of males are thickened at distal end, and retrolateral spines on the LIII tibiae are shortened, conical structures. A. maculata shares these characteristics, but is a smaller species. Definitive determination can only be made by examination of the epigyna or male palps.

total_length

Female 5-5.5mm, male 4.2-5mm

structural_features

silk_web

none

fld_guide_descriptions

online_photos

prey

predators

behavior

distribution_reference

Eastern United States from southern New England west to Wisconsin, south to Florida and Texas. One plausible record has been reported on iNaturalist from Lanark County, ON.

technical_reference

Platnick, N. I. 1974. The spider family Anyphaenidae in America north of Mexico. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 146: 205-266.

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

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

Forest litter, beneath logs, in low shrubbery

observation_methods

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Anyphaena celer a ghost spider
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Transylvania Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Transylvania Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Rowan Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: body 4.3 mm, came to UV light and sheet at night	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: body 4.3 mm, came to UV light and sheet at night
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: body 4.3 mm, came to UV light and sheet at night	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn McDowell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Iredell Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. McRae Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Gates Co. Comment:

Photo Gallery for Anyphaena celer a ghost spider