Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Philodromus rufus - a running crab spider Philodromidae 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

Of the four subspecies recognized for P. rufus, three may be found in eastern states, where they tend to be allopatric, although P.r. jenningsi has been found in the lower elevations of the NC Smokey Mountains, near where P.r. vibrans has been found at higher elevations.

species_comment

Philodromus rufus has five accepted subspecies, viz.: P.r. jenningsi, pacificus, quartus, vibrans, and virescens.

id_comments

Of the three subspecies of P. rufus reported from NC, P. r. jenningsi, lacks the dark, longitudinal borders found on the carapace of quartus and vibrans, while the latter two differ superficially in the length of their posterior abdominal chevrons, quartus's not reaching fully to the longitudinal dark abdominal sides.

total_length

Female 2.7-4.5mm, males 2.5-3.5mm

structural_features

silk_web

fld_guide_descriptions

Similar to thomisid spiders, but usually less colorful. Contrary to thomisid legs, philodromid legs II are longer than legs I.

online_photos

prey

predators

behavior

Fast runners, they will often pop 'round to the other side of a leaf when disturbed and then remain motionless.

distribution_reference

Cutler, B. (2003). A new subspecies of Philodromus Rufus (Araneae, Philodromidae). Journal of Arachnology 31: 142-144. Dondale, Charles D. and James H. Redner. 1978. The insects and arachnids of Canada, Part 5. The crab spiders of Canada and Alaska, Araneae: Philodromidae and Thomisidae. Research Branch Agriculture Canada Publication 1663: 255pp.

technical_reference

Dondale, Charles D. and James H. Redner. 1978. The insects and arachnids of Canada, Part 5. The crab spiders of Canada and Alaska, Araneae: Philodromidae and Thomisidae. Research Branch Agriculture Canada Publication 1663: 255pp.

adult_id

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

abundance

Common

distribution_comments

Generally Holarctic, but not common in the deep southeast, although P.r.jenningsi has been found in northern Georgia, and locations in central and northern Mississippi.

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

Many habitats: broad leaf and coniferous forests, old field, forest openings, understory vegetation, and grasses.

observation_methods

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Philodromus rufus a running crab spider
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Ashe Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Rutherford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Martin Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Craven Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Craven Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Surry Co. Comment: Camera zoom, low quality pic	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP Edgecombe Co. Comment: Beaten from pine branches	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Rutherford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Yancey Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Johnston Co. Comment: Mature male, beaten from Nandina. (Posted for phenology & photos of palps.)	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on oak, subspecies vibrans suspected	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Peter Hulth Johnston Co. Comment: Collected as penultimate in kitchen sink; molted to adult 16 Dec, reared until 12 Jan 2021, when it died.	Recorded by: Peter Hulth Johnston Co. Comment: Collected as penultimate in kitchen sink; molted to adult 16 Dec, reared until 12 Jan 2021, when it died.
	Recorded by: Peter Hulth Johnston Co. Comment: Collected as penultimate in kitchen sink; molted to adult 16 Dec, reared until 12 Jan 2021, when it died.	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jennifer Molan Brunswick Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Vin Stanton Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Vin Stanton Buncombe Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on oak, body 3.1 mm	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on oak, body 3.1 mm
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on oak, body 3.1 mm	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment:	Recorded by: K. Sanford, J. Hiatt, N. Davis Camden Co. Comment: DISW - Discovered in ranger truck @ -76.355659, 36.504665
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Watauga Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Avery Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Halifax Co. Comment:

Photo Gallery for Philodromus rufus a running crab spider