Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Araneus bicentenarius - lichenmarked orbweaver Araneidae Members:			NC Records	BugGuide Account	Public View

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Male

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

species_comment

id_comments

One of North America's largest orbweavers. Most are marked with a pattern of light green and reddish brown blotches on abdomen. Prominent abdominal humps in adult. Legs blotchy green with bases orange/reddish orange with a black band.

total_length

Very large. Females total body length 20-30 mm long and up to 20 mm wide. Males total body length less than 10 mm.

structural_features

silk_web

Large orb, 3-4 feet in diameter.

fld_guide_descriptions

online_photos

prey

predators

Two kleptoparasitic scorpionflies, Panorpa rufescens Rambur (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), were observed stealing food from Araneus bicentenarius (McCook) (Araneae: Araneidae) at Waterboro Barrens Preserve, York County, Maine. The spider's ensnared prey was a larva of Lapara sp. (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), which provided food for both spider and kleptoparasites.

behavior

At night this spider builds a large orb web 3-4' in diameter hiding in a leaf retreat throughout the day with a telegraph line to feel for prey.

distribution_reference

technical_reference

Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bug Guide

adult_id

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

abundance

Uncommon throughout the state and eastern United States.

distribution_comments

Overwinters as a subadult and matures early for such a large spider. In the coastal plain matures by April or May, in the mountains early June or July. Usually any extremely large web encountered at this time of year in the forests of the Carolinas is this species, because the golden silk and marbled orbweavers are active as adults in the fall.

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 openings

observation_methods

When not in web they may be encountered on lichen covered trees or green vegetation. Shaking the web or telegraph line can sometimes draw the female out.

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Araneus bicentenarius lichenmarked orbweaver
	Recorded by: David George Chatham Co. Comment: beautiful spider!	Recorded by: David George Chatham Co. Comment: beautiful spider!
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Buncombe Co. Comment: Eagle Rock parking area. Dropping from above about 20 feet off the ground, a Tufted Titmouse swooped at it repeatedly eventually capturing the meal
	Recorded by: K. Bischof Transylvania Co. Comment: GORG - Obs. VC.	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Yancey Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Deborah Gideon Buncombe Co. Comment: Found in second attempt to build web at front entryway. House located in dense forest/vegetation at 3300 ft.
	Recorded by: Denise Shields Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Denise Shields Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Graham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Chloe Tipton Buncombe Co. Comment: I have a short video that is way better than my photo. I can't upload it on this page, please email me so I can send it in. It's beautiful!
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin Madison Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Graham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment:	Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams Gates Co. Comment: MEMI
	Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams Gates Co. Comment: MEMI	Recorded by: Nicholas L. Prince Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment:	Recorded by: S. Lane Harnett Co. Comment: RARO
	Recorded by: J. A. Anderson Surry Co. Comment: PIMO	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - with prey in front of window at 358 Millpond Rd.
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - built web on ranger residence @ 358 Millpond Rd.	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Avery Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: K. Bischof Transylvania Co. Comment: GORG - Obs. Ranger Residence, Frozen Creek.
	Recorded by: Cooke, K Cleveland Co. Comment: CRMO - Located within 50 yards of park boundary at personal residence. Photos to follow.	Recorded by: R. Tomczak Onslow Co. Comment: HABE
	Recorded by: K. Bischof, M. Smith Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Caught in a drift fence located near the outdoor classroom. @ -76.901845, 35.476597	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Scott Bolick Guilford Co. Comment:

Photo Gallery for Araneus bicentenarius lichenmarked orbweaver