Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Araneus nordmanni - an orbweaver Araneidae Members:			NC Records	BugGuide Account	Public View

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Immature

Female

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

Large spider with dramatic black and white color forms and well defined abdominal humps. The abdomens of some are mottled brown with a light spot at the front of the centerline of the abdomen. Others have a black and white abdomen with a black folium, a black band between the humps, and a black bordered white spot or spots at the front centerline. The dark folium on the abdomen is bordered by a light wavy margin usually with three constrictions. All varieties have banded legs. The similar looking A. saevus has a more distinct white centerline at the front of the abdomen as well as a folium that usually has four constrictions.

total_length

Medium to large, female 7-19 mm, male 6-10 mm

structural_features

silk_web

fld_guide_descriptions

online_photos

prey

predators

behavior

After capturing prey this spider returns to it's retreat to feed. Where this species overlaps with A. saevus, nordmanni is smaller. Where there is no overlap it is larger, suggesting an ecological interaction between these similar spiders (Levi 1971).

distribution_reference

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

Uncommon

distribution_comments

Mountain region of North Carolina. Canada, western and northeastern United States, Appalachians south to Tennessee and North Carolina. Males in summer, females in summer and fall, peak September.

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

Usually found near boulders and trees in dark mature forests.

observation_methods

Visual observation.

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Araneus nordmanni an orbweaver
	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 Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Ashe Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Mitchell Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Mitchell Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Mitchell Co. Comment:
	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:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Orange Co. Comment:	Recorded by: B. McRae Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Yancey Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf Caldwell Co. Comment: GRMO
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Watauga Co. Comment:

Photo Gallery for Araneus nordmanni an orbweaver