Spiders of North Carolina

Arachnids of North Carolina

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

Neoscona domiciliorum - a spotted orbweaver Araneidae 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

This species was originally described in 1847 by Hentz as Epeira domiciliorum, retaining that name until until 1892, when Keyserling described it as E. benjamini. Ultimately, benjamina was sunk as a synonym and became Neoscona crucifera, while the entire family Epeiridae was sunk as being but a part of the Araneidae and the genus Epeira declared to be a junior synonym of Araneus, the species ended up as N. domiciliorum! (Yeah, it's complicated.)

species_comment

A fairly large (as the genus goes) spider with variable markings, N.domiciliorum can be confused with other Neoscona spp.

id_comments

Variable markings and colors can make this species difficult to determine, as it may be confused with other Neoscona spp.

total_length

Females 7.2-16.2mm, males 8.0-9.0mm

structural_features

silk_web

Large, vertical orbs, often in shrubby areas and near human structures.

fld_guide_descriptions

The prosoma is orange to brown and often covered with white hairs. The opisthosoma is boldly marked with a pale cross shape surrounded by dark brown, and it is tan to cream on the lateral edges. The ventral opisthosoma is black, with horizontal yellow dashes at the epigastric furrow and paired longitudinal yellow dashes toward the spinnerets. The legs have red to orange femurs, and the distal segments are banded. These spiders can be difficult to distinguish from other Neoscona species. (Rose, 2022)

online_photos

prey

predators

behavior

distribution_reference

Berman, J. D. & Levi, H. W. (1971). The orb weaver genus Neoscona in North America (Araneae: Araneidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 141: 465-500.

technical_reference

Berman, J. D. & Levi, H. W. (1971). The orb weaver genus Neoscona in North America (Araneae: Araneidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 141: 465-500.

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, increasingly common to its southern range, and thence west to Texas.

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

forest, shrubby areas, frequently on man-made structures.

observation_methods

state_protection

NHP_ranks

NHP_status

status_comments

Photo Gallery for Neoscona domiciliorum a spotted orbweaver
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment: Red femurs.	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Dare Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Terrell Tucker Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Kim STONE & Donald ZEPP Franklin Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Polk Co. Comment: OVVI Overmountain Victory Trail
	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Harnett Co. Comment: Orb web in tree ca. 2m above ground level	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Wake Co. Comment: In orb web on exterior side of footbridge railing. In situ photos only.
	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Wake Co. Comment: In orb web on exterior side of footbridge railing. In situ photos only.	Recorded by: L. Eckart Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA
	Recorded by: Donald Zepp Johnston Co. Comment: Hiding in dry leaf above damaged orb web. Released spm after ex situ photos.	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	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: Amy Grogan New Hanover Co. Comment: Observed in a large web	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka Orange Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-22)	Recorded by: H. Quay Durham Co. Comment: ENRI
	Recorded by: John Petranka Durham Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-22)	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: R. Newman Carteret Co. Comment: FOMA
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, Kyle Kittelberger Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Graham Co. Comment: I think this species is Araneus gemmoides, the Cat-faced Orb Weaver,; but since that species was not listed, I entered it as unidentified. Could it be?	Recorded by: Mark Shields Wayne Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Stanly Co. Comment:	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - behind visitor center
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Currituck Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - stunned by a mud dauber	Recorded by: K. Bischof McDowell Co. Comment: LAJA - Obs. ranger residence. Green house.
	Recorded by: K. Bischof McDowell Co. Comment: LAJA - Obs. ranger residence. Green house.	Recorded by: K. Bischof McDowell Co. Comment: LAJA - Obs. ranger residence. Green house.
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI	Recorded by: j.wyche Washington Co. Comment: PETT - 8 on picnic shelter; 1 on longhouse
	Recorded by: j.wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - by the door to the shop	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn Wake Co. Comment:	Recorded by: J. Wyche Gates Co. Comment: MEMI
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell Graham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: K. Bischof Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Obs. on the maintenance toolshed. @ -76.903911, 35.479212
	Recorded by: K. Bischof Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Obs. along the Tar Kiln Trail. ID by E. Corey.	Recorded by: K. Bischof Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Obs. along the Tar Kiln Trail. ID by E. Corey.
	Recorded by: R. Tomczak Onslow Co. Comment: HABE	Recorded by: K. Bischof, J. Colonel, L. Colonel Beaufort Co. Comment: GOCR - Obs. at the swim beach restroom. @ -76.898686, 35.462330
	Recorded by: John Fullwood, Scott Crocker Carteret Co. Comment: THRO

Photo Gallery for Neoscona domiciliorum a spotted orbweaver