Arachnids of North Carolina
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Leiobunum bracchiolum - No Common Name     SCLEROSOMATIDAE 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)

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synonym
taxonomic_comments Approximately 30 species in this genus have been identified as occurring in North America north of Mexico (Cokendolpher and Lee, 1993; Ingianni et al., 2011), with 16 recorded in North Carolina. However, the validity of several of these species is suspect, with several that will probably be determined to be synonyms of other species, e.g., davisi, speciosum, and zimmermani in North Carolina Burns et al., 2012; Shultz, 2018). According to Shultz (2018), moreover, recent phylogenetic studies indicate both that more species are waiting to be described and that the name Leiobunum may eventually be restricted to European species, requiring new generic names for most, if not all, of our species.
species_comment Placed in the Leiobunum Politum Species Group by Burns et al. (2012) based on reproductive structures as well as genetic analysis. In North Carolina, this group also includes L. politum.
id_comments Males are pale yellowish with no distinct markings (McGhee, 1977). Females are similarly pale yellowish but can have a central figure on the abdomen that varies from well-developed to obscure and from very light brown to dark brown. Shultz (2018) adds that the central figure in bracchiolum is restricted to the abdomen but may extend onto the carapace in politum. Otherwise, bracchiolum and politum are very similar in appearance and distinguishable primarily based on size and structural differences.
total_length 2.0-3.5 mm, males; 3.5-5.5 mm, females (McGhee, 1977)
structural_features According to McGhee (1977), bracchiolum is best distinguished from politum based on size and reproductve structures.
silk_web
fld_guide_descriptions
online_photos BugGuide, The Harvestmen of Maryland
prey
predators
behavior
distribution_reference Burns et al. (2012)
technical_reference McGhee (1977); Shultz (2018)
adult_id 1 identifiable by photo 2 identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info 3 identifiable from specimen only
abundance We currently have too few records from North Carolina to judge its frequency of occurrence or abundance
distribution_comments Our sole record comes from the central Piedmont. However, McGhee (1977) states that it is most common in the Appalachians, with at least one record shown in the range map for this species coming from close to the North Carolina-Tennessee line.
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 Found along forest edges in Maryland (Shultz, 2018)
observation_methods Shultz (2018) describes bracchiolum as more commonly found up on vegetation than L. politum, which is usually found on the forest floor
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] [SU]
NHP_status
status_comments We have only a single recent (2007) and confirmed record for this species. While this species does not appear to be habitat limited, we need much more information on its distribution in the state, its habitat preferences, and population trends before we can begin to estimate its conservation status.