Arachnids of North Carolina
Order:
Scientific Name: Common Name: Family (Alpha):
« »
Leiobunum vittatum - No Common Name     Sclerosomatidae Members: NC Records BugGuide Account Public View
Start Discussion
Distribution Records
PDF

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 Leiobunum vittatum Species Group by Burns et al. 2012) based on both reproductive structures and genetic analysis. In North Carolina, this group also includes L. uxorium.
id_comments Males are golden-yellow to dark red-brown above. The central figure is distinct and there are often black and light yellow markings along the sides of the abdomen. The palps are light yellow to red-brown. The coxae of the legs are pale and contrasting with the dark brown trochanters and bases of the femurs; the remainder of the legs are either pale with dark annulations or are uniformly dark (Davis, 1934). Females are similarly variable in color and in their possession of a strong central figure. Individuals of both sexes become darker as they age (Shultz, 2018); juveniles are contrastingly marked with black and white.
total_length 5-7 mm, males; 7-8.5 mm, females (Davis, 1934)
structural_features The palpal femur of the male is distinctive: slender, curved, and extending above surface of carapace a distance equal to three times the height of the eye tubercle (Davis, 1934). The abdomen of the male is pointed behind, rounded in the female.
silk_web
fld_guide_descriptions
online_photos BugGuide, The Harvestmen of Maryland
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 North Carolina records come from both the Piedmont and Mountains, including at least one record from high elevations
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 Usually associated with trees or other woody vegetation (Shultz, 2018)
observation_methods Shultz (2018) describes vittatum as "the most common and visible of the late-season harvestmen in Maryland; dark, senescent individuals may persist into early winter."
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] S4S5
NHP_status
status_comments This species is likely to be found over most of the state and probably not in association with restricted habitat types. It is most likely secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Leiobunum vittatum No common name

Recorded by: Steven Acesta
Forsyth Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Chatham Co.
Comment: White Pines Survey
Recorded by: Nathan Vaughan
Person Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Female; collected and the specimen examined
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Terrell Tucker
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Durham Co.
Comment: Several adult males seen		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Durham Co.
Comment: Several adult males seen
Recorded by: Steve Hall and Savannah Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan
Moore Co.
Comment: Seen at moth sheet
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Durham Co.
Comment: Cluster observed on a moth sheet left out overnight		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Durham Co.
Comment: Cluster observed on a moth sheet left out overnight
Recorded by: Stephen Hall, Ed Corey, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Tom Howard, Carol Tingley, Brian Bockhahn, and Van Cotter
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dee Stuckey and Steve Hall
Durham Co.
Comment: Common on paw-paw leaves; most were immatures but one adult male was seen
Recorded by: Dee Stuckey and Steve Hall
Durham Co.
Comment: Common on paw-paw leaves; most were immatures but one adult male was seen		Recorded by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Several seen at moth sheet		Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: not sure id, help please		Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Both males and females seen at moth sheet; one mating pair was observed
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Both males and females seen at moth sheet; one mating pair was observed		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Both males and females seen at moth sheet; one mating pair was observed
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Adult male seen on moth sheet		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: 1 male seen at moth sheet; adult coloration
Recorded by: Barbara McRae
Macon Co.
Comment: Found in a wetland area near the Little Tennessee River		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Seen at moth sheet
Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment: Seen during the day, perched about six feet high on a slippery elm		Recorded by: C. Taunton
Wake Co.
Comment: NCMA
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: 2 adults seen at moth sheet		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Mating pair, seen at moth sheet
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Several males and females were observed at a moth sheet		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Several males and females were observed at a moth sheet
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Both adult males and females seen at bait and sheet		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Both adult males and females seen at bait and sheet
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Both adult males and females seen at bait and sheet		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Both adult males and females seen at bait and sheet
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Stokes Co.
Comment: Common at bait and at a moth sheet; also seen on the ground, tree trunks, and buildings
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Seen on moth sheet