Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Xysticus ferox - a ground crab spider Thomisidae 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

X. transversatus

taxonomic_comments

species_comment

id_comments

Characteristically, the adult has a central dark triangle posterior to the dorsal groove of the carapace, flanked by larger, dark spots (often triangular) on the posterior declivity.

total_length

females 6-7mm, males 5-6mm

structural_features

silk_web

fld_guide_descriptions

online_photos

prey

predators

behavior

distribution_reference

Dondale, C. D. & Redner, J. H. (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: 1-255.

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

Common in NC & many other places throughout its range.

distribution_comments

Alaska to Nova Scotia (including Sable Island), southward to Utah, Texas, and Georgia.

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

old field

observation_methods

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Xysticus ferox a ground crab spider
	Recorded by: David George Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp Nash Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp Nash Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp Wayne Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp Wayne Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Rutherford Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Haley Royer Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Hyde Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Peter HULTH Johnston Co. Comment: Subadult male captured 08 Feb, molted to adult 20 Feb '23.	Recorded by: Peter HULTH Johnston Co. Comment: Subadult male captured 08 Feb, molted to adult 20 Feb '23.
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Dare Co. Comment:	Recorded by: John Petranka Orange Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)
	Recorded by: John Petranka Orange Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)	Recorded by: John Petranka Orange Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Project
	Recorded by: John Petranka Orange Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Project	Recorded by: Vin Stanton Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Carol Tingley Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Vin Stanton Buncombe Co. Comment: found on deck, not sure of id, change if needed.
	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Johnston Co. Comment: Penultimate female captured 12 Nov 2020, reared until molt to adult 18 Dec 2020. Photographed 19 Dec 2020.	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Johnston Co. Comment: Penultimate female captured 12 Nov 2020, reared until molt to adult 18 Dec 2020. Photographed 19 Dec 2020.
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: found indoors
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: found indoors	Recorded by: aubrey wiggins Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. McRae Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Washington Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: found indoors, 3 pairs ventral macrosetae on tibia 1, femur 1>4X long as wide, body 6mm	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: found indoors, 3 pairs ventral macrosetae on tibia 1, femur 1>4X long as wide, body 6mm
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: found indoors, 3 pairs ventral macrosetae on tibia 1, femur 1>4X long as wide, body 6mm	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - on counter box at the boat ramp
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Orange Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Avery Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Burke Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Surry Co. Comment:	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - near visitor center
	Recorded by: J. Wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - on women's toilet in the old canoe area bathroom	Recorded by: J. Wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - on women's toilet in the old canoe area bathroom

Photo Gallery for Xysticus ferox a ground crab spider