Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Larinia directa - an 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

species_comment

id_comments

Abdomen long and slender, tan to orangeish in color with a series of longitudinal stripes. There are usually two rows of five or six small dark spots. On the underside of the abdomen there is a light median stripe with black stripes on either side. Some forms can be boldly marked in orange, light almost white, gray and may show a dark stripe on dorsal surface of abdomen. Cephalathorax and legs can be the same color with fine sparse hairs. Males are similar with a shorter but still narrow abdomen, with light colored legs covered in black speckles. Immature's can be a pale dull gray, with distinct leg setae. The somewhat similar marsh orbweaver (Neoscona pratensis) has shorter legs and an abdomen that is not as thin. Larinia has an abdomen that is about three times as long as wide. Longjawed orbweavers (Tetragnatha) also have long abdomens but they have distinctive large protruding jaws. Slender Crab Spiders, genus Tibellus roost similarly but legs are stretched straight forward and not folded.

total_length

Small, female total body length 4.8-11.7 mm, male total body length 4.5-6.5 mm

structural_features

silk_web

Small oblique orb web built low in grasses and herbaceous plants.

fld_guide_descriptions

online_photos

prey

Small invetebrates.

predators

behavior

Rests in curled leaves with legs spread forward and backward in a narrow tuck. When threatened it may run to side of web and hang vertically with two front pair of legs folded and pointing forward, and rear legs spread out, in order to narrow and distort it's image.

distribution_reference

technical_reference

Spiders of North America - Bradley; 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

Uncommon throughout most of North Carolina and the southern United States and as far north as the mid Atlantic. Males spring through fall, females all 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

old field, grasslands, open country.

observation_methods

Visual observation, sweep netting.

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Larinia directa an orbweaver
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Mitchell Co. Comment: Swept through a lot of tall fescue where this spider was found.	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Burke Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Bertie Co. Comment: Unsure about this ID	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Martin Co. Comment: Unsure of ID
	Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP Wayne Co. Comment: Beaten from tree. Spm died 02 Mar '24 without having molted.	Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP Greene Co. Comment: Swept from weeds in swampy area
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Hyde Co. Comment:	Recorded by: John Petranka Orange Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey
	Recorded by: John Petranka Orange Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: body 10 mm, found indoors
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: body 10 mm, found indoors	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: body 10 mm, found indoors
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Granville Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Surry Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Burke Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Halifax Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Wake Co. Comment:

Photo Gallery for Larinia directa an orbweaver