Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

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

id_comments

According to Davis (1934), the dorsal surface is a nearly uniform brown; Shultz (2018) gives the color as red-brown in the males and dark brown in the females. The eye tubercle very dark brown or black above, lighter below in front. Central markings indistinct or subobsolete in males but dark in early season males and females; only pairs of dark anterior and posterior lines on the scutum may be present in older individuals; in females, a light band is present on the last scutal tergite (Shultz, 2018). The venter is silver-white, coxae included. The trochanters of the legs and bases of the femora are black, contrasting with coxae; the remainder of legs golden-brown. Palpi are yellow. Both flavum and ventricosum are different in male coloration and in both sexes the colors of the coxae and trochanters are concolorous rather than contrasting. A number of immatures shown on BugGuide and verified by Shultz are gray-brown, with a dark central figure that has extensions onto the sides of the abdomen at the end of the scutum.

total_length

~6 mm, males; ~8 mm, females (Shultz, 2018)

structural_features

Both male and female reproductive structures are diagnostic (Davis, 1934; Shultz, 2018)

silk_web

fld_guide_descriptions

online_photos

BugGuide

prey

predators

behavior

distribution_reference

Davis (1934); 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

The records we have span the state, from the low Mountains to the Tidewater region.

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, Shultz (2018) notes that verrucosum is common in late spring on vegetation near woods (especially brambles), and tends to move into woods later.

observation_methods

Overwinters as juveniles and matures in the spring; probably day-active and best found by direct searches in likely habitats

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] [S3S5]

NHP_status

status_comments

Although we have very few current records from North Carolina to judge its conservation status, it may potentially occur statewide and occupy a wide variety of forested to semi-open habitats. Consequently, it is likely to be secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Leiobunum verrucosum No common name
	Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: Adult male seen at moth sheet.	Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: Adult male seen at moth sheet.
	Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: Adult male found on moth sheet, Collected and identity confirmed by dissection -- sacculate penis. However, it also appeared to have a sharply pointed labrum rather than the triangular tip described in Schultz's key.	Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan Moore Co. Comment: Adult male found on moth sheet, Collected and identity confirmed by dissection -- sacculate penis. However, it also appeared to have a sharply pointed labrum rather than the triangular tip described in Schultz's key.
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Cabarrus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: Adult male; photographed at bait	Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: Adult male; photographed at bait

Photo Gallery for Leiobunum verrucosum No common name