Distribution Records
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Vetting Levels |
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Adult phenology:
High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
Piedmont (Pd)
Coastal Plain (CP)
Click on graph to enlarge
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| synonym | |
| taxonomic_comments |
One of six species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Cokendolpher and Lee, 1993; Shear, 2010). Four have been recorded in the East with only kepharti found in North Carolina. |
| species_comment |
This species was described by Crosby and Bishop (1924) from specimens collected at Mt. Pisgah and Grandfather Mountain. Records from those sites are still the only specific ones listed, although Cokendolpher and Lee (1993) mention that this species has also been recorded in Mississippi and Tennessee (but without any definite locations mentioned). |
| id_comments |
A minute, blackish harvestman. The dorsal, sclerotized tergites are dark brown to nearly black, strongly contrasting with the non-sclerotized white membrane that connects them; this is particularly evident in the female where their more distended abdomens show more of the white connecting areas. The coxae are are very dark but the base of the femora are nearly white; the rest of the leg segments are brown (Crosby and Bishop, 1924). |
| total_length |
1.2 mm, males; females are a little larger than the males (Crosby and Bishop, 1924) |
| structural_features |
The body is tuberculate and the palps and legs are covered with setae. The palps are long and slender and the second segment of the chelicerae has a rather long horn (see Crosby and Bishop, 1924, for illustrations and more detailed description). |
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| fld_guide_descriptions |
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| online_photos |
BugGuide does not have any photographs of this species but has them for H. modestum, a Western species, that appears to have similar features |
| prey |
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| predators |
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| behavior |
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| distribution_reference |
Crosby and Bishop (1924) |
| technical_reference |
Crosby and Bishop (1924) |
| adult_id | 1 identifiable by photo 2 identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info 3 identifiable from specimen only |
| abundance |
18 specimens were collected at the type locality at Mt. Pisgah, and three at Grandfather Mountain |
| distribution_comments |
There is currently too few records of this species to estimate its distribution within North Carolina. It is almost certainly confined to the mountains, but it has been found in forest habitats at elevations of 3,000-4,000' that are widespread in the western part of the state. |
checklist_mt_high
>=4,000 ft. | |
checklist_mt_low
<4,000 ft. | |
checklist_pd
Piedmont | |
checklist_cp
Coastal Plain | |
| habitat |
Not recorded but probably mesic hardwoods and possibly either cove forests or northern hardwoods. Unlike other members of this genus, this species does not appear to be a cave-obligate. |
| observation_methods |
Collected by sifting dead leaves banked against a decaying log (Crosby and Bishop, 1924) |
| state_protection |
Arachnids are not protected under state law, although permits are needed to collect them in State Parks and other public and private nature preserves |
| NHP_ranks |
[GNR] [S1S2] |
| NHP_status |
[SR] |
| status_comments |
This species is known in North Carolina only from the specimens collected by Crosby and Bishop in 1923. Several of our minute, litter-dwelling harvestmen in the Mountains appear to be highly dependent on moist, forest-floor conditions, making them vulnerable to the warming and drying effects of climate change, as well as other disturbances that open up the forest canopy. The massive timbering and wildfires that took place at the turn of the Twentieth Century is likely to have eliminated many populations, possibly permanently. More surveys are needed, however, to accurately assess the conservation needs of this species. |
Photo Gallery for Hesperonemastoma kepharti No common name |
 | Recorded by: Carol Tingley
Ashe Co.
Comment: Moist leaf litter |  | Recorded by: Carol Tingley
Avery Co.
Comment: leaf litter |
 | Recorded by: Carol Tingley
Avery Co.
Comment: leaf litter |  | Recorded by: Carol Tingley
Transylvania Co.
Comment: Found inside a rotten log |
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