Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Leiobunum flavum - 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)

Click on graph to enlarge

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 Early-season Leiobunum Species Group by Burns et al. (2012) based on its overwintering as a juvenile as well as by genetic analysis. In North Carolina, this groups also includes L. vetricosum and verrucosum.

id_comments

Dorsum golden to golden-brown, usually with no strong markings; in early spring, individuals may have a long, narrow central figure, but this is usually reduced to a couple of broken traces later on (Shultz, 2018). Ocular tubercle is brown with a dark ring around each eye, sometimes darker dorsally (Davis, 1934). Venter concolorous with or a little lighter than dorsum. Legs (excepting coxae) are concolorous with dorsum; palps are brown or yellow.

total_length

5.5–6.5 mm, males; 8–10 mm, females (Shultz, 2018)

structural_features

Males with abdomen truncate or bluntly rounded, compared to pointed in the otherwise similar ventricosum. Dorsal surface of abdomen nearly flat, very few or no tubercles present (Davis, 1934). Shultz noted in the Harvestmen of Maryland website that the metapeltidium is separated from the rest of the carapace and abdomen by fairly broad membranes. Male and female reproductive structures are diagnostic (see Davis, 1934; Shultz, 2018).

silk_web

fld_guide_descriptions

online_photos

BugGuide, The Harvestmen of Maryland

prey

predators

behavior

distribution_reference

Banks (1911), Brimley (1938)

technical_reference

Davis (1934); 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

Orginally recorded in North Carolina in the Swannanoa River Valley near Black Mountain. Recently, the species has been reported from Orange County in the Piedmont

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

In Maryland, this species reportedly occurs in and near wooded areas (Shultz, 2018). The record from Orange County comes from a semi-wooded residential neighborhood with remnants of the original native vegetation still present.

observation_methods

Should be looked for in the spring (April and May)

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] [S3S4]

NHP_status

status_comments

This species appears to occur widely across the state, from the Blue Ridge to the eastern Piedmont. Its habitat does not appear to be restricted.

Photo Gallery for Leiobunum flavum No common name
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Chatham Co. Comment: White Pines Survey	Recorded by: Steve Hall Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment: Female found at moth sheet	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment: Female found on moth sheet
	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment: Seen at moth sheet	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment: Adult female; collected; 10 mm
	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment: Adult female; collected; 10 mm	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment: Adult female; collected; 10 mm
	Recorded by: J. Needham Stokes Co. Comment: HARO - 4H Campground

Photo Gallery for Leiobunum flavum No common name