Arachnids of North Carolina
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Scientific Name: Common Name: Family (Alpha):
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Araneus marmoreus - Marbled orbweaver     Araneidae 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 Latin "of or like marble" from marmor- "marble"
species_comment Halloween spider; Pumpkin spider
id_comments One of our more distinctive—but also variable—orbweavers. Cephalothorax usually orange or yellow. The legs are orange at the base and have cream/white alternating with black/brown bands; femora orange. Abdomen color variable, most common form has a pale or yellow base color with a dark pattern on the folium. Northern color forms include a dusky and black-spotted. Young individuals are pale and usually rest in the web at night, rarely seen.
total_length Medium size, female 9-18 mm, male 5.9 mm
structural_features
silk_web Large orb web, often with a retreat in a curled leaf at its upper edge.
fld_guide_descriptions
online_photos
prey
predators
behavior Web is built in low bushes, tall grasses or low branches of a tree. The retreat can easily be found near an upper corner of the web. During the day the spider waits in the retreat and holds a telegraph line connected to hub. On cloudy days, at dusk and all night it may be found hanging at the hub. The appearance of large orange females, preparing to lay eggs, observed on or near the ground near the end of October is the source of the nickname "Halloween spider".
distribution_reference Widespread in NA, including Alaska.
technical_reference Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bugguide
adult_id 1 identifiable by photo 2 identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info 3 identifiable from specimen only
abundance Fairly common
distribution_comments Statewide in North Caorlina, more common in mountians and piedmont than coastal plain. Ranges from Alaska to Newfoundland, south to Oregon, Utah, sourthern Texas, and South Carolina. Adults present July-December.
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 Coniferous or deciduous forest as well as open habitats.
observation_methods Visual observation.
state_protection
NHP_ranks
NHP_status
status_comments

Photo Gallery for Araneus marmoreus Marbled orbweaver

Recorded by: B Lucas
Watauga Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Gaston Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Caroline Smith
Watauga Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: David George
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Macon Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof
Transylvania Co.
Comment: GORG - Obs. White Pine bath house.
Recorded by: Kristina Beaudet
Madison Co.
Comment: Found one in my house and one outside on my house
Recorded by: Robin Dycus
Catawba Co.
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Recorded by: Robin Dycus
Catawba Co.
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Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP
Edgecombe Co.
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Recorded by: Connor Wilson
Lincoln Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Linda McMillan
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: Bruce Bostjanick
Rowan Co.
Comment: Nested between 2 trees and infant remained in the center of the nest and the adult wondered off into the tree.
Recorded by: Bruce Bostjanick
Rowan Co.
Comment: Nested between 2 trees and infant remained in the center of the nest and the adult wondered off into the tree.
Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Polk Co.
Comment: OVVI Overmountain Victory Trail
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Leon Bass
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Carol Ann McCormick
Alamance Co.
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Recorded by: Carol Ann McCormick
Alamance Co.
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Recorded by: Terrell Tucker
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: Donald Zepp
Wake Co.
Comment: In orb web perpendicular and attached to footbridge. In situ photos only. See also record 6670, Argyrodes pluto from same web.
Recorded by: Chris Murphy
Rockingham Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM - Obs. along the Company Mill Trail along Crabtree Creek.
Recorded by: K. Bischof
Transylvania Co.
Comment: GORG - Obs. near Auger Hole Trail. Female. @ -82.886486, 35.107088
Recorded by: Donald Zepp
Johnston Co.
Comment: Found 6 adult females and their webs directly adjoining paved greenway and within 1 km north of Covered Bridge Rd. Four photographed (in situ).
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: David George
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Travis McLain
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/98040643
Recorded by: Laura Peeler
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Paul Brotcke
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Paul Brotcke
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Granville Co.
Comment: Wrapping prey
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
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Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal
Henderson Co.
Comment: Male and female
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
New Hanover Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Wayne Co.
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Recorded by: J. Mickey
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM - Seen along Sal's Branch Trail @ -78.763070, 35.882978
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: K. Sanford
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in family campground
Recorded by: J. Williams, Dwayne Parker
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - She had a web attached to the dumptruck antenna.
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in a leaf near the path that is beside Millpond Rd., near the old canoe area
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in leaf off of Cypress Point Trail
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - over trail that leds off of Coleman trail & down to water access
Recorded by: n.dominick, j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in leaf at end of web over footbridge to group canoe-in campground
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in north woods
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - in the vicinity of the north boundary
Recorded by: Jason Brown
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM
Recorded by: J. Mickey
Wilkes Co.
Comment: STMO - Along old logging road leading to Ellis Knoll. @ -81.046228, 36.408408
Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: J. Mickey
Wilkes Co.
Comment: STMO - Top of Stone Mountain along edge of rock face and woods. @ -81.043353, 36.392380
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - north boundary
Recorded by: K. Bischof
Washington Co.
Comment: PETT - Obs. at the Moccasin Trailhead jsut south of Weston Rd. @ -76.444888, 35.804449
Recorded by: L. Amos
Vance Co.
Comment: KELA - Bullocksville Park
Recorded by: B. Anderson
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM - Obs. on Sycamore Trail.
Recorded by: Sam Koch
Rockingham Co.
Comment: MARI
Recorded by: Dorothy E. Pugh
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI - Near Bobbitt's Hole
Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: S. Williams
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI
Recorded by: S. Williams
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI
Recorded by: B. Anderson
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM - Observed on Oak Rock Trail.
Recorded by: B. Anderson
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM - Observed on Oak Rock Trail.
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
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Recorded by: T Rayworth
Washington Co.
Comment: PETT
Recorded by: Eric Brannon
Wayne Co.
Comment: By Neuse River bank