Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Leucauge argyrobapta - a longjawed orbweaver TETRAGNATHIDAE Members:			NC Records	BugGuide Account	Public View

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Female

Female dorsal

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

The type for this species, Linyphia (Leucauge) argyrobapta White,1841, was based on a specimen collected by Charles Darwin (the only spider he's known to have documented!) during the voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle, which specimen was subsequently lost after publication of its description. A neotype was not established until 2010 when one based on specimens collected in the type locality was established. At that time, L. argyrobapta was declared a junior synonym of venusta, but in 2018 it was removed from that synonymy, and is again recognized as a separate species. These two species are grossly differentiated by geographic range (argyrobapta being typically more tropical and coastal, while venusta is more northern and found in temperate climes.) Although there may be some generalized marking difference, more precise determination requires microscopic examination of the genitalia. "Surprisingly," according to Ballesterosa and Hormiga, 2018,these are not sister species, as their "estimated age of divergence implies that the morphologies in this two species...have remained seemingly invariable for at least 10 million years.

species_comment

id_comments

At this writing (2023) we (NCBP) are considering as argyrobapta those coastal specimens having a dorsolateral pair of orange-yellow colored spots above the spinnerets on the opisthosoma in addition to a single, crescent shaped ventral spot anterior to those spinnerets (https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/arachnid/photos_records/2022/03/Leucauge_argyrobapta1646412242.jpg). Conversely, those having only a single orange-yellow, crescent-shaped marking on the venter of the abdomen, anterior to the spinnerets, are taken to be venusta (https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/arachnid/photos_records/2021/07/Leucauge_venusta1625505475.JPG).

total_length

Female 3.7-8mm, male 3.2-5.1mm

structural_features

silk_web

An orb, usually horizontal or at an angle to the horizontal, with tangled lines beneath. Usually constructed in low bushes or branches: Frequently in humid locations. Commonly found in low shrubbery, citrus groves, suburban and urban settings, including on landscape plantings.

fld_guide_descriptions

The prosoma is light brown with a dark median stripe. The opisthosoma is silver white and has a pattern of dark lines and yellow to orange spots. The dorsal opisthosoma has a dark central line and two lateral lines that run parallel the entire length. Some smaller diagonal lines connect the lateral lines to the central lines. There is often yellow shading within this area and, sometimes, yellow or orange spots near the posterior. The ventral opisthosoma is dark, with a copper-orange crescent-shaped marking (which in some cases is yellow). (Rose, 2022)

online_photos

prey

predators

behavior

distribution_reference

Ballesteros, J. A. & Hormiga, G. (2018). Species delimitation of the North American orchard-spider Leucauge venusta (Walckenaer, 1841) (Araneae, Tetragnathidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 121: 183-197.

technical_reference

adult_id

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

abundance

TBD

distribution_comments

Gulf coast through Florida. Apparently moving northward along the coast on NC. It's been observed that they are frequently taken in the same environment as Trichonephila clavipes.

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

observation_methods

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Leucauge argyrobapta a longjawed orbweaver
	Recorded by: Ralph Tramontano Carteret Co. Comment: These are seen quite frequently, both in my yard and in the forests of the Croatan NF	Recorded by: Ralph Tramontano Carteret Co. Comment: These are seen quite frequently, both in my yard and in the forests of the Croatan NF
	Recorded by: Ralph Tramontano Carteret Co. Comment: These are seen quite frequently, both in my yard and in the forests of the Croatan NF	Recorded by: Jared Barrier Sampson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jared Barrier Sampson Co. Comment:	Recorded by: J. Pilkington Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Mabel's Orchard Orbweaver/Orchard Orbweaver
	Recorded by: J. Pilkington Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Mabel's Orchard Orbweaver/Orchard Orbweaver	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment: Two reddish spots at end of opisthosoma on dorsal surface (these become bright red later in year). Same red chevron as L. venusta on ventral surface.
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment: Two reddish spots at end of opisthosoma on dorsal surface (these become bright red later in year). Same red chevron as L. venusta on ventral surface.	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Dare Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment: Assume this is a male, was in same web as much larger bodied female.
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment: Juveniles and adults present.	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment: Juveniles and adults present.
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka and Chuck Smith Bladen Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment: male
	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Pamlico Co. Comment: Cellphone photo of juvi feeding in web on rear ladder of "permanently" parked RV. (Extremely windy conditions, to boot!)	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Scotland Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Scotland Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:	Recorded by: R. Newman Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Beaufort Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Beaufort Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Morgan Freese New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther Columbus Co. Comment: These are seen frequently at this site.	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther Columbus Co. Comment: These are seen frequently at this site.
	Recorded by: R. Newman Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA	Recorded by: Morgan Freese Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Morgan Freese Brunswick Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: C. Bennett, A. bilewski Dare Co. Comment: JORI - Seen behind visitor center	Recorded by: Emily Wilkie New Hanover Co. Comment: CABE - Student with the UNCW Island Ecology Class found this spider along the flytrap trail. @ -77.914010, 34.047052
	Recorded by: K. Bischof Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Obs. along the Palmetto Boardwalk.	Recorded by: Dorothy E. Pugh and Karl D. Gottschalk New Hanover Co. Comment: CABE
	Recorded by: Newman, Randy & Corey, Ed Carteret Co. Comment: THRO - Roosevelt Trail	Recorded by: Matt Windsor, Jennifer Thoburn Dare Co. Comment: RUHI - female in maritime shrub swamp
	Recorded by: Newman, Randy Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA - Along roadside between soundside residence and top of ridge approx. 50 yards past residence.	Recorded by: R. Newman Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA - Beside roadside at old Eliason House site location.

Photo Gallery for Leucauge argyrobapta a longjawed orbweaver