Arachnids of North Carolina
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Scytodes atlacoya - a spitting spider     SCYTODIDAE 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)

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synonym
taxonomic_comments New species described by Rheims, Brescovit & Durán-Barrón, 2007
species_comment Synanthropic
id_comments Cephalothorax light tan, with darker tan or light brown "chain" pattern. Abdomen tan to light grey, often "leopard-spotted." Occasionally the spots coalesce into small stripes or bands. Female genitalia must be dissected for certain determination; palps of NC scytodid species males are distinctive--specimens can be readily determined with a hand lens.
total_length males: 5-9mm, females 7-10mm
structural_features A guide to help distinguish between Scytodes atlacoya and S. longipes in NC
silk_web Small, random, disorganized, not usually for capture.
fld_guide_descriptions
online_photos
prey Soft bodied insects; other spiders.
predators Other spiders
behavior Nocturnal hunter that lies in wait with its long legs extended, either in a small web of its construction, in another species' web, or with no web at all. Vision is poor, so vibration and touch are important. Potential prey is spat on to "glue" it down, and a nip of a leg or other vulnerable spot renders the prey helpless. Using its remarkably small fangs, the spider liquifies-- and subsequently pumps out--the prey's contents. During the day, it may remain exposed to finish eating larger prey, it may take smaller prey to a regular hiding spot, or simply return there empty um... "tarsied." Hiding locations have been observed to be used by the same spider for weeks and then, for no apparent reason, abandoned for another spot usually nearby. S. atlacoya has been observed engaging in aggressive mimicry by tweaking the lines of Parasteatoda tepidariorum and Steatoda grossa webs to entice their denizens close enough to subdue and eat. As they do enter other species' webs, it is not surprising that they often become the victims themselves. (non-published observations--dbz) Females carry very loosely bound egg sac of 50± eggs in its chelicerae until spiderlings hatch and, ca. 1 week later, leave the egg sac. Spiderlings and mother frequently stay together, and can be found in the same webbing for weeks or longer.
distribution_reference
technical_reference Rheims, C. A., Brescovit, A. D. & Durán-Barrón, C. G. (2007). Mexican species of the genus Scytodes Latreille (Araneae, Scytodidae). Revista Ibérica de Aracnología 13: 93-119 Suter, R.B. and G.E. Stratton (2009). Spitting performance parameters and their biomechanical implications in the spitting spider, Scytodes thoracica. Journal of Insect Science: Vol. 9, Article 62.
adult_id 1 identifiable by photo 2 identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info 3 identifiable from specimen only
abundance Unknown
distribution_comments The spider was described from northeastern Mexico, and not surprisingly in Texas. It seems to have spread far more widely than thought, and has been previously found in the Gulf states, and up into Georgia. A 2012 blog post from SC clearly shows S. atlacoya, and I have seen many other photos of what I am sure to be this species misidentified. Photos of a population identified by a clear view of the male palpi have been found as far north as Portsmouth, VA. --dbz
checklist_mt_high
>=4,000 ft.
Regular
Frequent
Infrequent
Occasional
Seldom
 Frequency
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 Synanthropic; indoors and out. Found behind bark, in pile of firewood, and taken by "beating" ornamental shrubbery (--dbz).
observation_methods Frequently seen at night on exterior door frames and window screens.
state_protection
NHP_ranks
NHP_status
status_comments

Photo Gallery for Scytodes atlacoya a spitting spider

Recorded by: Bryan Eddy
Wake Co.
Comment: Inside a garden shed; been kept and fed in a container since 5/2024		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: A tribute to Donald Zepp!!
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: A tribute to Donald Zepp!!		Recorded by: Terrell Tucker
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Terrell Tucker
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: This photo shows mom and 12-14 babies;on the front porch there are 4-5 moms with similar numbers of babies.
Recorded by: Tobias Crosariol
Scotland Co.
Comment: Tobias (a student of mine) observed and photographed this spider in April 2022--submitted with permission of author.		Recorded by: Tobias Crosariol
Scotland Co.
Comment: Tobias (a student of mine) observed and photographed this spider in April 2022--submitted with permission of author.
Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan
Moore Co.
Comment: Two individuals seen after dark on the outside of an old farm house. One individual had snared a fly, with the viscous thread visible extending from the chelicerae to the victim		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan
Moore Co.
Comment: Two individuals seen after dark on the outside of an old farm house. One individual had snared a fly, with the viscous thread visible extending from the chelicerae to the victim
Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan
Moore Co.
Comment: Two individuals seen after dark on the outside of an old farm house. One individual had snared a fly, with the viscous thread visible extending from the chelicerae to the victim		Recorded by: Brian WAGONER & Donald ZEPP
Cumberland Co.
Comment: Unknown ages: S. atlacoya juveniles often hunt in communal webs—and frequently with their mother (non-published obeservations--dbz). Photos by Brian WAGONER
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales
Sampson Co.
Comment: Under the eave of my mother's home near the front porch light.		Recorded by: Donald ZEPP
Wake Co.
Comment: Emerged at night, on exterior house wall close up under soffit. Ex situ photosrn
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Probably best as unidentified Scytodes.		Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA - behind siding on SP002 residence @ -76.681902, 34.695435
Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA - behind siding on SP002 residence @ -76.681902, 34.695435		Recorded by: Donald ZEPP
Johnston Co.
Comment: This sub-adult female overwintered beneath this Betula nigra bark--the first specimen I've seen in a "natural," i.e. non-manmade, environment. This was the very first chunk of bark I removed. I found another subadult female under the 2nd piece I pulled off the same tree a few minutes later, as well!
Recorded by: Donald Zepp
Johnston Co.
Comment: Female hunting on porch screen 12°C, another, an immature, was hunting on the same screen nearby. In situ photos, otherwise undisturbed.		Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA
Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA		Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Donald ZEPP
Johnston Co.
Comment: A mother and some of her spiderlings. Mother and 5 spiderlings now vouchers in Butantan Institure, São Paulo, Brazil.
Recorded by: Donald ZEPP
Johnston Co.
Comment: A mother and some of her spiderlings. Mother and 5 spiderlings now vouchers in Butantan Institure, São Paulo, Brazil.		Recorded by: Donald ZEPP
Johnston Co.
Comment: A mother and some of her spiderlings. Mother and 5 spiderlings now vouchers in Butantan Institure, São Paulo, Brazil.
Recorded by: Donald ZEPP
Johnston Co.
Comment: First NC record. Collected 29 May 2019. Specimen sent as voucher to Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: J. Fields
Cumberland Co.
Comment: CACR - Found in on the side of one an old structure with an egg case @ -78.896685, 35.198055