Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Microdipoena guttata - a minute clasping weaver MYSMENIDAE 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

species_comment

This only North American species of Microdipoena is one of our tiniest spiders, the adults often being <1mm! They make proportionally tiny three-dimensional, orb-like webs in the interstices among fallen leaves, close-to-the-ground portions of plants, or similar protected places.

id_comments

Despite its tiny size, the males can be determined by the conspicuous presence of clasping spines on their tibiae and metatarsi, leading Platnick (2020) to refer to the family as "minute clasping weavers."

total_length

Females 0.9-1.1mm; males 0.7-0.9mm

structural_features

Females with sclerotized spot on distal ventral surface of femur I. Males have prominent clasping spines on tibiae and metatarsi of Legs I, concave clypeus and highly raised tubercle bearing the eyes. Spinnerets of both sexes are notably anterior, near genital opening.

silk_web

Described as a "spherical, 3D 'orb'"

fld_guide_descriptions

online_photos

prey

predators

behavior

distribution_reference

Ubick, D., Pacquin, P., Cushing, P.E. and Roth, V. (eds). 2017. Spiders of North America, An Identification Manual, 2nd Edition. American Arachnological Society, Keene, New Hampshire, USA.

technical_reference

Bishop, S. C. & Crosby, C. R. (1926). Notes on the spiders of the southeastern United States with descriptions of new species. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 41: 163-212, pl. 20-25. Platnick, Norman I. (ed.) 2020. Spiders of the World: A Natural History. Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

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

E. USA, MA, NY, NJ; MO east to NC; southeast to FL

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

Taken by sifting in dry leaves in woods and at edges of swamps.

observation_methods

Rarely seen, owing to small size. Generally found by sifting or Berlese funnel.

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Microdipoena guttata a minute clasping weaver
	Recorded by: Carol Tingley Macon Co. Comment: Leaf litter	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Johnston Co. Comment: sub-adult female. Taken in Berlese sample of leaf litter beneath Euonymus alatus.
	Recorded by: Carol Tingley Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Carol Tingley Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Carol Tingley Halifax Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Carol Tingley Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: Female. Berlese sample under stacked firewood.	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: Female. Berlese sample under stacked firewood.
	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: Female. Berlese sample under stacked firewood.	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: In Berlese of same area where male was collected. Clearly female, but—judging by size—immature (the species reportedly has no epigynum, but I'll continue looking for an adult female!). Sadly, this minute specimen was lost during handling!
	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: In Berlese of same area where male was collected. Clearly female, but—judging by size—immature (the species reportedly has no epigynum, but I'll continue looking for an adult female!). Sadly, this minute specimen was lost during handling!	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: In Berlese of same area where male was collected. Clearly female, but—judging by size—immature (the species reportedly has no epigynum, but I'll continue looking for an adult female!). Sadly, this minute specimen was lost during handling!
	Recorded by: Carol Tingley Washington Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Carol Tingley Washington Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: In Berlese sample of litter & soil beneath stacked firewood.	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: In Berlese sample of litter & soil beneath stacked firewood.
	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: In Berlese sample of litter & soil beneath stacked firewood.	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: In Berlese sample of litter & soil beneath stacked firewood.
	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: In Berlese sample of litter & soil beneath stacked firewood.

Photo Gallery for Microdipoena guttata a minute clasping weaver