Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Araneus pegnia - Butterfly orbweaver Araneidae Members:			NC Records	BugGuide Account	Public View

Start Discussion

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

Abdomen has distinctive four oval areas that vaguely resemble a pair of butterfly wings. These oval areas are usually pale, sometimes even pink in color. Behind these pale light spots on the abdomen are paired dark bands. The cephalothorax and legs are dull or yellow colored. The legs can be banded or plain. Gaddy noted in South Carolina that A. pegnia on barrier islands had pink, white or yellowish, but inland species were yellow to gray.

total_length

Small, female 3.5-8.2 mm, male 2.5-4.9 mm

structural_features

silk_web

Individuals of A. pegnia build orb webs in shrubs on bogs and sim- ilar habitats. The orb is approximately 10 cm in diameter, has about 30 radii, and there may be an open sector in the upper half. There is a retreat, which is con- nected to the hub by a signal thread, and also a large, loose irregular ,mass of threads "similar to that in the web of Metepeira labyrinthea" (Kaston 1948).

fld_guide_descriptions

The prosoma is light tan to pale orange. There is usually a visible dark midline, although it often does not run the entire length of the prosoma. The opisthosoma is tan to brown. At the anterior end, there is a marking that many observers compare to outspread butterfly wings. The marking is usually tan to yellow but can also be deep pink in some cases. The legs are banded. (Rose, 2022)

online_photos

prey

predators

Commonly preyed upon by mud dauber wasps.

behavior

In evenings it builds a distinctive web in shrubs or low branches of trees, hiding in the retreat throughout the day. Web is similar to a labyrinth orbweaver, with both an orb and tangle web. The spider usually waits in its retreat, holding a telegraph line attached to the hub of the orb. The silk retreat is a relatively large tent.

distribution_reference

technical_reference

Spiders of North America - Bradley; Spiders of the Carolinas – Gaddy; Bugguide Kaston, B. J. (1948). Spiders of Connecticut. Bulletin of the Connecticut State Geological and Natural History Survey 70: 1-874.

adult_id

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

abundance

Can be common.

distribution_comments

Statewide in North Carolina, more common in the coastal plain. Widespread throughout the eastern United States. Adults summer to fall though can be found any month of the year.

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, shrubby areas, wet areas including bogs, buildings; in Rhododendron maximum. These spiders often build their webs in low shrubby vegetation, but webs can also be found under the eaves of buildings or on fences. The spider’s retreat looks like a small Araneus thaddeus (lattice orbweaver) retreat but is much smaller and less structured. The web will sometimes have a tangle web attached, similar to that built by Metepeira labyrinthea (labyrinth orbweaver). The webs sometimes lack a sector, similar to Zygiella x-notata. There is usually a line that runs from the retreat to the hub of the web. (Rose, 2022)

observation_methods

Sweep net, beating.

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Araneus pegnia Butterfly orbweaver
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Chatham Co. Comment: White Pines Survey	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn Buncombe Co. Comment:	Recorded by: John Petranka Stokes Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Hunter Phillips Onslow Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George Avery Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Yancey Co. Comment: came to UV light and sheet	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: Beaten from Osmanthus	Recorded by: Donald ZEPP Johnston Co. Comment: Beaten from Osmanthus
	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Johnston Co. Comment: Overgrown site of nursing home demolished ca. 3 years prior. Female specimen beaten from low bushes.	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Johnston Co. Comment: Overgrown site of nursing home demolished ca. 3 years prior. Female specimen beaten from low bushes.
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Ashe Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams New Hanover Co. Comment: CABE - Bio-blitz 2017
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Surry Co. Comment:	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - on visitor center in same place as before
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - on visitor center	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - under back overhang of visitor center
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - on ceiling of overhang behind visitor center	Recorded by: J. Wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - under visitor center overhang; There were probably more than 10, but I got tired of counting.
	Recorded by: J. Wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - on visitor center overhang	Recorded by: J. Wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - beside the outside door to the classroom at the visitor center;measured 1cm including legs & 0.5 cm on body.
	Recorded by: FKW Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - Office

Photo Gallery for Araneus pegnia Butterfly orbweaver