Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Micrathena mitrata - white micrathena Araneidae Members:			NC Records	BugGuide Account	Public View

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Immature

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

Originally described by Hentz as Epeira mitrata in 1850, it was later transferred to the genus Micrathena, which had been erected in 1833 by Sundevall. "Micrathena": from the Greek adjective for "small" and the name of the goddess Athena, patroness of domestic arts and handicrafts, especially spinning and weaving; "mitrata" from the Latin for "cap" or "turban."

species_comment

id_comments

White abdomen with dark markings and having 4 points (usually black) on posterior end.

total_length

Females 4.0-6.0mm; males 3.0-3.7mm

structural_features

silk_web

Off-vertical orb with closely spaced sticky lines and a hole at the hub.

fld_guide_descriptions

online_photos

prey

predators

behavior

Diurnal

distribution_reference

Eastern states, though not found in Florida peninsula.

technical_reference

Levi, H. W. (1985). The spiny orb-weaver genera Micrathena and Chaetacis (Araneae: Araneidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 150: 429-618.

adult_id

1 identifiable by photo 2 identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info 3 identifiable from specimen only

abundance

distribution_comments

Eastern states, though not found in Florida peninsula.

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

low forest understory, particularly in humid areas

observation_methods

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Micrathena mitrata white micrathena
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Gaston Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Rockingham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Rowan Co. Comment: Small male.
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Polk Co. Comment: OVVI Overmountain Victory Trail	Recorded by: Mark Peifer Alamance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Peifer Alamance Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Harnett Co. Comment: Many specimens in low <1m) webs in scrubby growth along trail
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: H. Quay Orange Co. Comment: ENRI - Inside park office @ -79.004916, 36.078687	Recorded by: John Petranka Orange Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-22)
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Caldwell Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Vin Stanton Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Alleghany Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Barbara McRae Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Vin Stanton Buncombe Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Polk Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stanly Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stokes Co. Comment:	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - north boundary
	Recorded by: NEW Moore Co. Comment: WEWO - Horse trail by intersection with Pine Island Trail	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Wake Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jane Wyche Camden Co. Comment: DISW - Bull Blvd.

Photo Gallery for Micrathena mitrata white micrathena