Arachnids of North Carolina
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Neoscona arabesca - Arabesque orbweaver     Araneidae Members: NC Records BugGuide Account Public View
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Male

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 This species' nomenclature has been stable since 1936. Interestingly, Simon erected the genus Neoscona in 1864 when he was only 16 years old, but his mastery of Greek seems to have been rather "shaky" (Look Who's Talking Dept. --dbz): It is relatively clear that he meant "spinning among the reeds," but Neoscona translates literally as "spinning a reed." In 1869, Thorell charitably tried to correct this with the spelling "Neoschoena," but this was rejected by Bonnet (1958) who decided that the original spelling should be retained "even if incorrectly written"—although he agreed with Thorell.

The specific epithet arabesca probably refers to the arabesque style of surface decorations.

species_comment
id_comments
total_length Female 5.2-7.7mm, male 4.2-5.9mm
structural_features
silk_web Orb
fld_guide_descriptions The prosoma can be yellow to brown. When it is paler, you can make out a median stripe and darker edges. It is often covered with hair. The opisthosoma is highly variable in color: some are pale yellows and tans, while others are rich browns. Paired dark brown to black dashes are on the posterior half of the opisthosoma. The ventral opisthosoma is black, with horizontal yellow dashes at the epigastric furrow and paired longitudinal yellow dashes toward the spinnerets. (Rose, 2022)
online_photos
prey
predators
behavior Webs are built in low vegetation in a variety of habitats.
distribution_reference
technical_reference html_bibio_code

Pickard-Cambridge, F. O. (1904). Arachnida - Araneida and Opiliones. In: Biologia Centrali-Americana, Zoology. London 2, 465-560, pl. 44-51.

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 Found throughout NC and common in all 48 contiguous states. (Bradley, 2013)
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 old field, grass bald, forest edge. Most abundant in open areas.
observation_methods
state_protection
NHP_ranks
NHP_status
status_comments

Photo Gallery for Neoscona arabesca Arabesque orbweaver

Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp
Nash Co.
Comment: Sweep net in herbaceous vegetation.
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Jim Petranka
Mitchell Co.
Comment: Mature female.
Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Jim Petranka
Mitchell Co.
Comment: Mature female.
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Macon Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Henderson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wayne Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Rutherford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Richmond Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Stanly Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Macon Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Chatham Co.
Comment: White Pines Survey
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Female and male photos.
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Female and male photos.
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP
Lenoir Co.
Comment: Juvenile beaten from low vegitation
Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP
Edgecombe Co.
Comment: In orb web on pine branches
Recorded by: Mark BASINGER & Donald ZEPP
Pitt Co.
Comment: Beaten from low tree limbs
Recorded by: Terrell Tucker
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jessica Sass
Bertie Co.
Comment: 1 observed building a web on my front porch
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Hyde Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
Columbus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Granville Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Donald ZEPP
Johnston Co.
Comment: In backyard web on bushes. In situ photos
Recorded by: Donald ZEPP
Johnston Co.
Comment: In backyard web on bushes. In situ photos
Recorded by: Donald ZEPP
Johnston Co.
Comment: In backyard web on bushes. In situ photos
Recorded by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Polk Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, Kyle Kittelberger
Hoke Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, Kyle Kittelberger
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Bo Sullivan
Gates Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Bo Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: j.wyche
Washington Co.
Comment: PETT - LOC: on the Longhouse in the "Home-life" section
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Stanly Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Stanly Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf
Caldwell Co.
Comment: GRMO
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Surry Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - Cypress Point Trail
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - at 358 Millpond Rd.
Recorded by: J. Mickey
Wilkes Co.
Comment: STMO - Along old horse trail (closed section) at rock outcrop near Martins Low Gap. @ -81.025093, 36.372303
Recorded by: J. Mickey
Wilkes Co.
Comment: STMO - Along old horse trail (closed section) at rock outcrop near Martins Low Gap. @ -81.025093, 36.372303
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - on top of wand in family campground
Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI - on top of wand in family campground
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof
Beaufort Co.
Comment: GOCR - Obs. in parking lot #2. @ -76.900477, 35.463991
Recorded by: Newman, Randy
Carteret Co.
Comment: THRO - Eastern boundary under powerlines
Recorded by: E. Corey
Wake Co.
Comment: WIUM - Seen along trail on top of leaf, assuming female