Spiders (order Araneae, class Arachnida, subphylum Chelicerata, phylum Arthropoda, superphylum Protostomia, subkingdom Metazoa, kingdom Animalia, domain Eukarya)
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This guide covers mainly spiders of the eastern U.S. and Canada. Exceptions are the arctic spiders that arachnologist Roy Erling Wrånes photographed in Finnmark County in far northern Norway; he has given me permission to use these photos on the website, but he owns the copyrights. They are grouped by their families with the other spiders.
All spiders are venomous, but in the U.S. and Canada, only the Brown Recluse and the Black Widow are known to do serious harm to humans via their venom. The Brown Recluse, also called the "violin spider" because of a charactertistic dark marking on its cephalothorax, is often found indoors in old houses not protected by pest control and is most common in the south central part of the U.S. Black Widows are generally found outside. The tarantulas of the Southwestern U.S. sometimes bite in self-defense and can toss spine-like hairs at their attackers. The North American Funnel Web Spiders (members of the Agelenidae family) should not be confused with the highly venomous Sydney (Australia) Funnel Web Spiders (Atrax robustus), which are members of another suborder altogether (the Mygalomorphae).
Spiders have a cephalothorax (literally "head-neck") and an abdomen, unlike insects, which have distinct divisions between the head, thorax and abdomen. Also, unlike insects, spiders have eight legs and chelicerae and lack antennae and wings (which some insects do lack). They also have spinnerets on their abdomens. Most have eight eyes, although some have fewer; spider eye arrangements can be key to distinguish spider families and sometimes genera, as shown by Lynette Elliott's Spider Eye Arrangement Page on BugGuide. Lynette generalized these patterns from spider photos on that site. Links to the applicable family eye arrangement information are shown below with the photos shown for each spider family. I have included this because it is the clearest attempt to demonstrate one of the rules by which spiders are classified.
Spiders have some natural insect enemies. One of the most unusual of them is an insect: the so-called thread-legged bug of the Stenolema genus. These bugs wiggle constantly, and when they contact a spider web, the spider mistakes them for prey.
However, other spiders can inflict painful nips under some circumstances. I once was surprised in Florida by a large wolf spider that had crawled into my shoe when I put it on; it left two small, relatively deep indendations in my callused big toe.
There is one endangered North Carolina spider species, i.e., the Spruce Fir Moss Spider. As the name implies, the spider's natural habitat is found in the Southern Appalachians, among these northern conifers, at elevations above ~5400 feet.
John and Jane Balaban provided many identifications (not all specified below), especially of crab spiders, on their own initiative, which we checked out. We accept responsibility for the correctness of these IDs.
In any case, feel free to contact us.
Purseweb Spiders (Atypidae family, Mygalomorphae suborder)
Mygalomorphs are generally large spiders; though they seem to be the species most likely to inspire arachnophobia, the bites of all of the US species are harmless to humans. "True tarantulas" (family Theraphosidae) are members of this suborder, while the spiders in this family are also called "atypical tarantulas" as well as "purseweb spiders." There are two genera in the US: Atypus and Sphodros.
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| Male Purseweb Spider (Sphodros atlanticus), Eno River State Park, Fews Ford access, top of Cox Mountain, Orange County, North Carolina, 5/27/06. Family ID thanks to John and Jane Balaban, referring to BugGuide's Purseweb Spider page. Genus, species and sex ID thanks to Jeff Hollenbeck. | Purseweb Spider (Sphodros atlanticus), Durham, NC 5/15/16 |
Trapdoor Spiders (Ctenizidae family, Mygalomorphae suborder)
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| Trapdoor spider, Hope Mills, NC. Photo taken by Samantha Adkins-Witmill. | Trapdoor spider, Durham, NC, 10/14/14 |
Folding-door Spiders (Antrodiaetidae family, Mygalomorphae suborder)
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| Folding-door Spider (Antrodiaetus microunicolor), Yadkinville, Yadkin County, NC, 11/30/10. Photo by Brandon Frye. |
Tube Web Spiders (Segestriidae family, Synspermiata clade, Araneomorphae infraorder)
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| Tube web spider (Ariadna bicolor), Durham, NC, 6/28/22 |
Crevice Weavers (Filistatidae family, Synspermiata clade, Araneomorphae infraorder)
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| Southern House Spider (Kukulcania hibernalis) about half an inch long. Oviedo, Seminole County, FL, 7/18/11. Photo by Kurt Amesbury |
Mesh Web Weavers (Dictynidae family, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
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| Mesh web weaver (Emblyna genus), Durham, NC, 6/4/21 | Mesh web weaver, Durham, NC, 4/21/20 | Mesh web weaver? Durham, NC, 5/31/16 | Mesh web weaver. Family ID thanks to Chad Heins. Maybe Dictyna calcarata. | Mesh web weaver, Durham, NC, 5/23/20 | Probably another mesh web weaver, Durham, NC, 5/23/20 |
Pirate Spiders (Mimetidae family, Mimetoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
These spiders are predators of other spiders.
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| Pirate spider (Mimetus puritanus), Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 7/23/13. ID thanks to Laura P. | Pirate spider (Ero leonina), Durham, NC, 12/13/20. ID thanks to Jeff Hollenbeck. |
Sac Spiders (Clubionidae family, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
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| Sac spider, Durham, NC, 7/28/14 |
Guardstone Spiders (Phrurolithidae family, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
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| Guardstone spider (Phrurotimpus genus). Genus ID thanks to chuuuuung. |
Common Orb Weavers (Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Araneus Genus Eye Arrangement (Elliott): This seems very similar to the eye arrangements of other Araneidae family members to me. However, to see close-up photos of eye arrangements of the Araneidae family, go halfways down the page of Spider Eye Arrangements (Elliott).
Spinning mainly vertical flat, spiral-patterned webs ("orbs") is characteristic of most these spiders, but it is not the most important taxonomically. Arachnologists consider anatomical structure and behavior to be more important than web characteristics, as exemplified by Willey and Johnson (1992).
Spined Orb Weavers (Micrathena genus, Araneidae family, Araneoidea, Orbiculariae, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae)
These orb weavers have traditionally been considered to be in this family, and I'm betting it will be official in the final classification scheme. But their genus seems not to have come up for consideration yet.
Micrathena gracilis
These spiders, commonly known as Spined Micrathenas, have eight black spines on a mostly white abdomen.
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| Spined Micrathena (Micrathena gracilis), Durham, 7/28/05. This spider had spun a web across a walking path in my neighborhood that was high enough not to be disturbed by people. | Spined Micrathena (Micrathena gracilis), Riverbend Park, Catawba County, 9/24/09 | Male Spined Micrathena (Micrathena gracilis), Third Fork Creek Trail, Curham, NC, 7/4/12. ID thanks to John and Jane Balaban. |
Micrathena mitrata
These spiders have just two spines on their abdomens. ID based on remarks about this species near the bottom of the Micrathena Gracilis page of the University of Arkansas' Arthropod Museum Notes.
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| Micrathena mitrata, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 9/7/07. | Chatham County, NC, 11/9/05. This one was about ¼ inch long. | Orb weaver (Micrathena mitrata), Durham, NC, 10/3/13 | Micrathena mitrata, ventral view. Riverbend Park, Catawba County, NC, 9/24/09 |
Arrow-shaped Micrathenas (Micrathena sagittata)
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| Arrow-shaped Micrathena, Durham, NC, 7/5/17 | Arrow-shaped Micrathena (Micrathena sagittata), Durham, NC, 9/13/20 | Arrow-shaped Micrathena, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 8/12/08 | Arrow-shaped Micrathena, Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, 7/30/05. This spider was in the process of web-spinning. | Another Arrow-shaped Micrathena spider Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, 7/30/05. |
Crablike Spined Orb Weavers (Gasteracantha cancriformis, Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
These spiders may look like crabs, but they feel like sandspurs if you have the wrong kind of encounter with them. Perhaps because birds have learned to avoid them, they often feel free to spin their webs across trails.
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| Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver (dorsal view), St. Augustine, St. Johns County, FL, 3/12/13 | Same Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver (ventral view) | Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver, Cypress Gardens, Berkeley County, South Carolina, 10/12/07. See other spiders. | Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver (dorsal view), Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 8/4/09 | Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis), Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 6/23/06 | Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver, same spider | Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver, Fort Fisher Basin Trail, New Hanover County, NC, 6/22/06 |
Star-bellied Orb Weavers (Acanthepeira stellata, Araneidae family, Araneoidea, superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae)
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| Star-bellied Orb Weaver (mostly ventral view), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham, NC, 8/23/09. | Star-bellied spider, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 8/28/05. This one reminds of part of a cuckoo clock my mother once had! | Star-bellied spider, Indian Creek Trail, a Jordan Lake Game Land, Chatham County, NC, 7/7/06: ventral view on left, dorsal on right. | |
Triangulate Orb Weavers (Verrucosa arenata, Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
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| Triangulate Orb Weaver, Durham, NC, 1016/21 | Triangulate Orb Weaver, Durham, NC, 8/24/15 | Triangulate Orb Weaver, Little River Park, Orange County, NC, 10/20/07 | Triangulate Orb Weaver, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 9/18/05. | Triangulate Orb Weaver, White Pines Nature Preserve, Chatham County, NC, 9/25/05. |
Araneus genus members (Araneidae family, Araneoidea, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Araneus and Neoscona are very similar genera, and many of these photos were not taken at an angle that reveals the one tiny difference (the posterior dorsal longitudinal groove), as described at American Museum of Natural History's Orb Weaver Page. So many of these are guesses.
Marbled Orb Weavers (Araneus marmoreus)
These pictures illustrate the variation in abdominal patterns occuring among members of this species.
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| Marbled Orb Weaver, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 9/27/07 | Marbled Orb Weaver, Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 10/9/06. | Marbled Orb Weaver, Durham, NC, 11/12/21 | Marbled Orb Weaver?, Nova Scotia, Canada, 10/18/07. Photo taken by Nancy Crowell. ID is uncertain, since Nova Scotia may have some spider species unique to the area. | Marbled Orb Weaver, Sybertsville, PA, 9/26/08. Photo by Ted Reinmiller. | Marbled Orb Weaver (Araneus marmoreus), Durham, NC, 9/27/05. | Marbled Orb Weaver (Araneus marmoreus), ventral view, Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Road access, Orange County, NC, 9/16/05 | Unusual Marbled Orb Weaver. Photo taken by Steve Harkins, Waxhaw, Union County, NC, 12/25/08. Not positive of ID. |
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Cross Spider (Araneus diadematus)
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| Cross Spider, Ludlow, Massachusetts, 10/31/07. Photo taken by Mark Moran. |
Araneus bicentenarius
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| Araneus bicentenarius, Great Smoky Mountains. Photo taken by "Vicki." A very big spider. |
Araneus miniatus
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| Orb weaver, Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 1/19/13 | Orb weaver, Durham, NC, 10/22/13. Immature female. | Orb weaver (male Araneus miniatus), Durham, NC, 2/3/13 | Orb weaver (male Araneus miniatus), Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 1/19/13 | Orb weaver (male Araneus miniatus), Durham, NC, 1/18/18 | Orb weaver (Araneus miniatus), Durham, NC, 11/8/23 | Orb weaver (Araneus miniatus), Durham, NC, 11/8/23 |
Araneus guttulatus
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| Araneus guttulatus, Durham, NC, 6/14/08. A very tiny spider, about 2 mm long. |
Araneus cingulatus
A tiny and very varied species
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| Araneus cingulatus, Louisville, Kentucky, 9/24/10. Photo taken by John Nation. |
Araneus alboventris
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| Araneus alboventris, Durham, NC, 7/4/13 | Araneus alboventris, Durham, NC, 10/2/09. Has lost two legs. | Araneus alboventris, Holly Springs, NC, 10/25/10. Photo by Jason W. |
Araneus bivittatus
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| Araneus bivittatus, Durham, NC, 8/21/13 |
Araniella genus (Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae)
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| Six-spotted Orb Weaver (Araniella displicata), Durham, NC, 11/23/21 |
Six-spotted Orb weaver (Araniella displicata), Durham, NC, 2/1/14. ID thanks to
John and Jane Balaban |
Six-spotted Orb weaver (Araniella displicata), Durham, NC, 2/3/21 |
Neoscona genus (Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Hentz Orb Weaver (Neoscona crucifera)
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| Hentz Orb Weaver attacking a leaf that had fallen in its web. Durham, NC, 10/17/12 | Hentz Orb Weaver, dorsal view, Durham, 9/28/08 | Orb weaver, Durham, NC, 8/14/07. | Hentz Orb Weaver, ventral view, Durham, 9/28/08 |
Spotted Orb Weaver (Neoscona domiciliorum)
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| Orb weaver, Pettigrew State Park, Washington County, NC, 11/11/10. Dorsal view. | Orb weaver, ventral view, White Pines Natural Area, Chatham County, 9/25/05. Maybe another male. | Orb weaver, Johnston's Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 8/25/05. Dorsal view. | Orb weaver, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 8/9/09 | Orb weaver, side view, Durham, NC, 8/30/06 |
Arabesque Orb Weaver (Neoscona arabesca)
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| Arabesque Orb Weaver, Durham, NC, 10/19/20 | Orb weaver, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 6/15/07 | Orb weaver, Pettigrew State Park, Washington County, NC, 11/11/10 | Orb weaver, Durham, 7/6/05 | Orb weaver, Durham, NC, 5/29/08 | Arabesque Orb Weaver | Same Arabesque Orb Weaver, Durham, NC, 7/28/20 |
Labyrinth Orb Weaver (Metepeira labyrinthea)
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| Labyrinth Orb Weaver (Metepeira labyrinthea), Durham, NC, 8/30/21 |
Argiope genus (Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily,Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Argiopes are standard orb weavers in that their webs are round and flat.
White-backed Garden Spider or Banded Argiope (Argiope trifasciata)
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| White-backed Garden Spider, Durham, 9/27/05. Also very well-fed. Was hanging out next to a large lantana patch visited by many insects. | White-backed Garden Spider, Penny's Bend, Durham County, NC, 10/15/05, ventral view | White-backed Garden Spider. Dorsal view of the same spider. Definitely well-fed! | White-backed Garden Spider, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 10/17/07 Dorsal view. | White-backed Garden Spider, ventral view of the same spider. |
Yellow-and-black Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)
These are some of the biggest spiders in eastern North America; not including their legs, they can reach one inch in length. As a result, they are also the most familiar outdoor spiders, though far from the most common.
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| Yellow-and-Black Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia). Small spider on top left was a member of another species. Durham, NC, 8/13/18. | Closeup of female Yellow-and-black Garden Spider, Harnett County, NC, 8/10/04. | Yellow-and-black Garden Spider, Durham, NC, 10/10/09, with prey. | Yellow-and-Black Garden Spider, Fayetteville, NC, 8/25/06. Taken by Adolph Thomas. Copyright © 2006 Adolph Thomas. | Yellow-and-black Garden Spider, Jordan Lake Game Land, Chatham County, NC 10/1/06 | Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantius), Durham, NC, 9/25/21 |
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| Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia), with prey, Durham, NC, 9/4/22 | Male Yellow-and-black Garden Spider, 9/2/04. | Male Yellow-and-black Garden Spider, Indian Creek Trail, Chatham County, 8/2/05. | Immature female Yellow and Black Argiope, Durham, NC, 6/30/08. |
Immature Yellow-and-black Garden Spider, Fort Fisher, New Hanover County, NC, 6/22/06. |
Immature Yellow-and-black Garden Spider, Holly Springs, NC, 10/25/10. Photo by Jason W. | Male Argiope genus (most likely aurantius) spider, given the species seen in this area. Durham, NC, 8/30/13. Genus ID thanks to Lynette Elliott. |
Mangora genus (Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Mangora placida
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| Mangora placida, dorsal view. Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 3/30/07 | Mangora placida, dorsal view. Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 3/31/07 | Mangora placida, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 8/31/07. This may be the same species as the spider on the right. | Orb weaver (Mangora placida), Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 9/3/15 | Mangora placida, ventral view. Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 7/27/07. ID uncertain. |
Mangora maculata
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| Mangora maculata, Durham, NC, 8/1/07. This appears to be the same species as the spider on the immediate left. Genus ID thanks to Jeff Hollenbeck. Species ID thanks to John and Jane Balaban. |
Mangora gibberosa
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| Female Lined Orbweaver (Mangora gibberosa), running away, but came back. Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/23/23 | Same female Lined Orbweaver (Mangora gibberosa), Ocracoke, Hyde County, NC, 5/23/23 | Male Lined Orb weaver |
Mangora spiculata
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| Orb weaver (Mangora spiculata), Durham, NC, 10/2623 |
Mangora acalypha
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| Mangora acalypha, Finnmark County, Norway, 2010. On the red list. Photo by Roy Erling Wrånes. |
Acacesia hamata (Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
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| Acacesia hamata, Durham, 7/18/05. ID provided by John and Jane Balaban. | Acacesia hamata, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham County, NC, 9/7/07. This was a very tiny spider, a few mm long. Its placement on the brown spot of this leaf camouflaged it effectively. |
Heptagonal Orb Weaver (Gea heptagon), Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
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| Female Heptagonal Orb Weaver (Gea heptagon), Durham, NC, 1/4/20 | Female Heptagonal Orb Weaver (Gea heptagon), Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 11/14/10 | Male Heptagonal Orb Weaver (Gea heptagon), Durham, NC, 8/21/06 |
Basilica Spiders (Mecynogea lemniscata, Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
In contrast with the flat webs of the orchard spiders, the webs of most of these spiders fill a three-dimensional space and no two threads seem to be in the same plane. They often are found in groups in contiguous webs. Maybe they get their common name from this web structure. They do not weave orb-shaped webs; Willey, Johnson and Adler say that although some have argued that they should be assigned to the Linyphiidae family on the basis of similarity of web construction; giving greater weight to anatomical structure and behavior as critera led to their Araneidae classification. This illustrates another problem with common names: orb-weaving is not a universal Araneidae trait.
The two pictures on the left (second row) suggest an aborted courtship (Durham, 7/20/05). It took place within one of a group of complex webs with elaborate three-dimensional structures. All webs were apparently spun by spiders of the same species, which had the abdominal patterns pictured in the two photos on the right.
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| Female Basilica spider, Durham, NC, 7/6/09. Note the distinguishing green stripe on the side of the abdomen. | Female Basilica Spider, Durham, NC, 10/18/12 | Basilica Spider, Durham, NC, 6/30/21 | Female Basilica Spider, Durham, NC, 7/12/12 | Basilica Spider, view of the bottom part of the abdomen, Durham, NC, 7/20/05. It mimics an open mouth with tongue and fangs. | Basilica spider egg sacs. Durham, 7/31/05. With egg sacs. |
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| Male Basilica Spider, Durham, NC, 7/6/15. Seen on a trail bollard. | Male Basilica Spider, Durham, NC, 7/1/08. The dominant color on the side of the abdomen is yellow. | Male Basilica Spider, Durham, 6/30/05, wrapping up its prey. | Basilica Spiders: female on the left, male on the right. Durham, NC, 6/30/05 | Same Basilica Spiders interacting. The female let the male touch her with two feet for a second or two, then they quickly separated. |
Cyclosa turbinata (Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
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| Cyclosa turbinata, Durham, NC, 3/18/16 |
Larinoides cornutus (Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
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| Larinoides cornutus, Finnmark County, Norway, 1/30/11. Photo by Roy Erling Wrånes. |
Unidentified orb weavers (Araneidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
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| Another orb weaver, upstaged by its dew-adorned web at the very beginning of the day. |
Golden Silk Spiders and Allies (Nephilinae subfamily, Nephilidae family, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Golden Silk Spiders (Nephila clavipes)
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| Female Golden Silk Spider, Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 9/16/07. | Same female Golden Silk Spider (lateral view) | Same female Golden Silk Spider (dorsal view) | Golden Silk Spider, Nature Trail, Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC, 10/6/23 |
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| Golden Silk Spider couple (big one is female), Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 8/4/09 | Male Golden Silk Spider, Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 8/4/09 | Juvenile Golden Silk Spider (Nevila clavipes), Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 6/23/07. | Juvenile Golden Silk Spider, Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area Nature Trail, Pine Knoll Shores, Carteret County, NC 7/23/08 | Juvenile Golden Silk Spider, Ft. Fisher Basin Trail, New Hanover County, NC, 6/24/08. The variant pattern is puzzling. |
Long-jawed Orb Weavers (Tetragnathidae family, derived araneoids, Araneoidea superfamily, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Tetragnathidae Eye Arrangement (Elliott)
Long-jawed Orb Weavers (Tetragnatha genus)
These spiders are so named because of their unusually large chelicerae, ending in fangs, which contain venom-producing glands ending in hollow spikes through which they deliver their venom.
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| Long-jawed orb weaver (Tetragnatha extensa), showing fangs, Durham, NC, 7/1/23 | Long-jawed
orb weaver (Tetragnatha extensa), Durham, NC, 8/21/09 |
Long-jawed orb weaver (Tetragnatha extensa), Durham, NC, 2/7/20 | Long-jawed orb weaver, Durham, NC, 6/13/05. | This same Long-jawed orb weaver sought cover on a form of swamp grass, using impressive camouflage. |
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| Long-jawed orb weaver (Tetragnatha extensa), Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 5/17/13 | Long-jawed orb weaver, Jordan Lake Gameland, Chatham County, NC, 6/19/07 | Long-jawed orb weaver, Durham, NC, 4/28/06 | Long-jawed orb weaver (Tetragnatha versicolor), Durham, NC, 6/9/11 |
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| Long-jawed orb weaver (Tetragnatha viridis), Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 11/19/12 | Long-jawed orb weaver, Durham, NC, 8/18/20 |
Glenognatha genus
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| Long-jawed orb weaver spider (Glenognatha foxi), Durham, NC, 3/26/20. ID thanks to John Rosenfeld. |
Pachygnatha genus
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| Pachygnatha degeeri, Finnmark County, Arctic Norway, 1/30/11. Photo by Roy Erling Wrånes. | A thick-jawed orb weaver (Pachygnatha brevis), Durham, NC, 4/8/14. ID thanks to John and Jane Balaban. | Same spider, but a frontal view. Durham, NC, 12/17/13 |
Orchard Orbweavers (Leucage genus)
Orchard spiders spin orb-shaped webs much of the time, but they can settle on trail bollards, where they spin webs on the sides of these structures.
L. venusta
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| Male Orchard Spider, Durham, NC, 8/25/22 | Female Orchard Spider, private garden near Asheville, Buncombe County, NC, 5/1/14 | Female Orchard Spider, North Carolina Botanical Garden nature trail, Orange County, NC, 5/6/19 | Female Orchard Spider, Durham, NC, 5/6/20 | Female Orchard Spider, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 5/11/12 | Female Orchard Spider, Durham, NC, 5/27/09 |
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| Female Orchard Spider, Durham, NC, 7/8/18 | Female Orchard Spider with prey, Moses Cone Memorial Park, Watauga County, NC, 7/18/13 | Female Orchard Spider, perhaps pregnant female, Durham, NC, 9/9/16 | Female Orchard Spider, Durham, NC, 9/9/16 | Female Orchard Spider, River Park North, Greenville, Pitt County, NC, 9/26/13 | Female Orchard Spider, Santee National Wildlife Refuge (Bluff Unit), Claredon County, SC, 4/29/11 | Female Orchard Spider, Durham, NC, 3/26/20 |
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| Male Orchard Spider, Durham, NC, 6/21/15. | Male Orchard Spider, Durham, NC, 6/7/15 | Male Orchard Spider (dorsal), Durham, NC, 6/13/14 | Female Orchard Spider (dorsal view), Santee National Wildlife Refuge (Bluff Unit), Claredon County, SC, 4/29/11 | Female Orchard Spider, Durham, NC, 4/2/20 | Female Orchard Spider, Durham, NC, 9/19/12 (Dorsal view). | Female Orchard Spider, Durham, 6/17/05. Dorsal view. | Juvenile Orchard Spider, Durham, NC, 1/23/13. ID thanks to John and Jane Balaban. | Juvenile orchard spider (Leucage venusta), Durham, NC, 1/17/21. |
L. argyrobapta
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| Orchard Spider, Marie G. Selby Botanical Garden, 2/28/18 | Orchard Spider, Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County, NC, 9/17/07 | Female Orchard Spider, Audubon Swamp Garden, Charleston County, SC, 10/11/07. | Female Orchard Spider, Durham, NC, 8/29/13 | Orchard Spider, Audubon Swamp, Charleston County, SC 10/11/07 | Orchard Spider, Buccaneer State Park, Waveland, Hancock County, MS, 10/13/17 | Orchard Spider, Goose Creek State Park, Beaufort County, NC, 9/20/08. Dorsal view. |
L. argyra
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| Orchard Spider, Shipley Trail at Bailey Homestead, Fort Myers, Lee County, FL, 2/22/19 | Orchard Spider, South Lido County Park, Sarasota County, FL, 2/27/18 |
Comb-footed or Cobweb Spiders (Theridiidae family, Theridioidea, Araneoid sheetweb weavers, Reduced pyriform clade, Derived Araneoids, Araneoidea superfamily, RTA Clade, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Theridiidae Eye Arrangement (Elliott)
These spiders spin cobwebs, which humans detest and songbirds love to use for nesting material. These webs are small and compact, eventually becoming frayed and indistinct, and probably not especially effective in catching flying insects. But they frequently catch insects crawling up the sides of houses.American House Spiders (Achaearanea tepidariorum)
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| American House Spider attacking a Marbled Orb Weaver, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, 7/15/06 | American House Spider with egg sac. Durham, 7/22/05 | American House Spider, Durham, NC, 8/10/07 | American House Spider with egg sac. Durham, 6/14/05. One of the larger spiders I've seen. | American House Spider with prey, Durham, NC, 7/6/05 |
Euryopis funebris
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| Cobweb spider (Euryopis funebris), Durham, NC, 7/5/17 | Cobweb spider (Euryopis funebris), Durham, NC, 11/22/20 |
Yunohamella genus
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| Comb-footed spider (Yunohamella lyrica), Durham, NC, 2/6/19. ID thanks to Chad Heins, confirmed by Laura P. | Cobweb spider (Yumohamella lyrica), Durham, NC, 12/28/21 |
Dewdrop spiders (Argyrodes genus)
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| Dewdrop spider (Argyrodes elevatus) with orb weaver prey. Durham, NC, 8/27/13 | Same dewdrop spider (Argyrodes elevatus) attacking orb weaver prey | Another Dewdrop Spider (Argyrodes genus), Durham, NC, 11/23/13 |
Theridion genus
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| Cobweb spider (Theridion genus), Durham, NC, 12/4/21 | Cobweb spider (Theridion genus), Durham, NC, 6/1/20 | Theridion pictipes, Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 5/17/13 | Theridion pictipes, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 5/31/07. ID thanks to John and Jane Balaban. | Theridion murarium, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 7/26/13 |
Theridula genus
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| Cobweb spider (Theridula emertoni), Durham, NC, 8/19/21 |
Asagena americana
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| Asagena americana, Hanging Rock State Park, Stokes County, NC, 5/22/08 |
Enoplognatha ovata
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| Cobweb spider (Enoplognatha ovata), Durham, NC, 7/13/22 |
Anelsimus studiosus
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| Spider (Anelosimus studiosus), Durham, NC, 1/1/23 |
Widow Spiders (Latrodectus genus members) use a neurotoxic venom. They are outdoor spiders; some are reclusive, while others appear out in the open. It is unusual to see a male; they are much smaller and very different in appearance. These spiders are venomous at every age. It is best to be observant.
Southern Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)
The characteristic marking is a red hourglass (really two opposing triangles fused) on the ventral side of the abdomen. There are no red markings on the dorsal side.
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| Adult female Southern Black Widow?, Zebulon, NC. Photo taken by and provided by Cindy Privette. Species ID uncertain because the red hourglass figure is partially obstructed. |
Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus)
The characteristic marking is a divided red hourglass figure on the ventral side of the abdomen. The dorsal side typically has three or more red spots.
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| Adult male (note the larger pedipalps) Northern Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus mactans), Durham, NC, 5/27/09. This spider is also shown in the picture on the right. | Male and female Northern Black Widow Spiders, Durham, NC, 5/29/09. The female was much more reclusive and had made a rare trip outside this dark hiding place. The other disappeared after a couple of days. | Adult female Northern Black Widow, Durham, NC, 7/22/09. Note dorsal red spots on abdomen. You can also see how the web is becoming frayed, filling a particular small space. |
Immature black widows
Stripes characterize immature black widows that are past the spiderling stage.
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| Black widow spiderling, one of a large group near a rock crevice on a power line cut in Durham, NC, 10/15/08. Might be a Southern Black Widow, but not sure. It matches this BugGuide picture of Missouri spiderlings. | Immature Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus), Tulare, CA, 10/20/10. Photo by Rebecca Mustin. Another example, from Texas by Joe Lapp. | Immature black widow, which was attacking a large fly, Eno River State Park, Orange County, NC, 4/24/10 |
Brown Widows (Latrodectus geometricus)
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| Brown Widow, Lakeland, FL, 11/28/10. Copyright © 2010 Noella T. Martell Segura. |
False Black Widow (Steatoda grossa)
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| False Black Widow, dangerous despite what its name suggests. Durham, NC, 12/30/05. |
Steatoda bipunctata
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| Steatoda bipunctata, Finnmark County, Norway, 1/30/11. Photo by Roy Erling Wrånes. |
Cribellate Orb Weavers (Uloboridae family, Entelegyne, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Uloborus genus (Uloboridae family, Entelegyne, Araneomorphae infraorder)
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| Feather-legged Orb Weaver (Uloborus glomosus), Durham, NC, 8/7/20 | Uloborus glomosus, Durham, NC, 6/16/12 | Cribellate orbweaver (Hyptiotes cavatus), Durham, NC 11/23/22 |
Sicariidae family (Haplogynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Brown Recluse (Loxosceles genus, Sicariidae family, Haplogynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
This is a very poisonous spider, arguably the most dangerous spider in the U.S.
Sicariidae Eye Arrangement (Elliott): These spiders have only six eyes.
There are six brown recluse species in the USA; Loxosceles reclusa is the most widespread, with the center of its range in Arkansas. The others are found in Mexico and near its border with the USA.
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| Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa), Rogers, Arkansas, 11/28/10. Photo taken by Todd Nida. |
Sheet Web Weaver and Dwarf Spiders (Linyphiidae Family, Linyphioids, Araneoid sheetweb weavers, Reduced pyriform clade, Derived araneoids, Araneoidea, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Linyphiidae Eye Arrangement (Elliott)
All photos in the first row were taken of members of the species Florinda coccinea, subfamily Linyphiinae member, according to Wikipedia's Blacktailed Red Sheetweaver page and Samford University's Florinda coccinea page. Levi and Levi (2002) describe this species as yellow-colored (rather puzzling) and most commonly found in the southeastern US.
This spider family has the most species, although its members are very tiny and probably overlooked altogether by most people. The two shown below are apparently the most common in Piedmont North Carolina.
Black-tailed Red Sheetweavers (Florinda coccinea)
These spiders usually spin their webs, in the form of horizontal sheets, near the ground in grasses.
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| Male Black-tailed Red Sheetweaver, Durham, NC, 8/11/16 | Female Black-tailed Red Sheetweaver, Durham, NC, 10/3/16 | Black-tailed Red Sheetweaver, Durham, NC, 7/16/05, local swamp. Possibly the same species as at left, but maybe not as well-fed. | Black-tailed Red Sheetweaver, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 9/30/06. This picture was taken on a cool morning when the dew was still on its web. |
Bowl-and-doily Spiders (Frontinella communis)
These spiders have typically showed up in the branches of small trees. Their webs have two parts, one that is bowl-shaped and another below it that is disk-shaped and looks like a doily. When prey lands on the "doily," the spider leaps down from the "bowl" and attacks it.
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| Bowl-and-doily Spider pair, Durham, NC, 4/19/21 | Female Bowl-and-doily Spider, Durham, NC, 5/1/12 | Female Bowl-and-Doily Spider, Durham, 10/3/16 | Bowl-and-doily Spider, Durham, NC, 9/5/17 |
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| Female Bowl and Doily Spider, Eno River State Park, 10/18/07 | Female Bowl-and-doily Spider on a streetlamp pole, Durham, NC, 11/20/12 | Bowl-and-doily Spider, Durham, NC, 12/4/21 | Same Bowl-and-doily Spider |
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| Male Bowl and Doily Spider, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 8/12/08 | Male Bowl-and-doily Spider, Durham, NC, 9/8/16 | Male Bowl-and-doily Spider, ventral view. Durham, NC, 7/2/12 | Same male Bowl-and-doily Spider, dorsal view |
Filmy Dome Spiders (Prolinyphia marginata)
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| Filmy Dome Spider with fly prey, Congaree National Park, Richland County, SC, 4/30/11 | Filmy Dome Spider, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 8/18/06. ID thanks to John Robinson, confirmed by Samford University's relevant page. | Filmy Dome Spider, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 7/30/09 | Filmy Dome Spider, Korstian division, Duke Forest, Orange County, NC, 5/3/06 | Female Filmy Dome Spider, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 4/18/09. |
Bathyphantes genus
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| Sheetweb spider |
Dwarf Spiders (subfamily Erigoninae)
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| Dwarf spider (Baryphyma trifons) Subfamily ID thanks to Lynette Elliott. | Dwarf spider (Baryphyma trifons), Durham, NC, 12/10/20 | Dwarf spider (Baryphyma trifons), Durham, NC, 12/29/18 | Dwarf spider (Ceraticelus atriceps) |
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Diplocephalus cristatus
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| Diplocephalus cristatus, Finnmark County, Norway, 1/30/11. Photo by Roy Erling Wrånes. |
Ghost Spiders (Anyphaenidae family, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Anyphaenidae Eye Arrangements (Elliott)
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| Ghost spider (Hibana genus). ID thanks to Laura P. | Ghost Spider, Durham, NC, 6/5/09. Family ID thanks to Lynette Elliott. | Ghost spider, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 6/16/07. |
Funnel Web Spiders and Grass Spiders (Agelenidae family, Other Amaurobioids, RTA Clade, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Agelenidae Eye Arrangements (Elliott)
Funnel web spiders have a two-part web consisting of a horizontal sheet which catches prey and a funnel-shaped tunnel in which the spider hides. In this way, these harmless (to humans) spiders bear a superficial resemblance to the highly venomous Sydney (Australia) Funnel-web Spiders, members of the Hexathelidae family, suborder Mygalomorphae. This is a classic example of how common names can cause serious confusion, not the least because web shape is a relatively unimportant spider classification factor.
On our deck, funnel web spiders spin horizontal webs that attach at one end to large round lights, curving partially around them across to the "funnel" end of the web. Moths drawn to the light find themselves trapped in the web because the web partially blocks their departure from the light. The web isn't sticky and sometimes moths find their way out. Yet sometimes the spider is faster, jumping up to bite a flying moth, which lands on the web. Since these lights are such a recent development in natural history, these spiders' strategic use of them looks a lot like human-like engineering reasoning. But spiders don't even have real brains: a single ganglion (a bundle of nerves) serves instead.
Grass spiders (Agelenopsis genus) are small and very common, often seen running along the ground.
In general, it is not possible to identify definitively the species of individual Agelenopsis genus spiders with only a dorsal view.
The infamous Hobo Spider (Tegenaria agrestis), found in the western US, is a member of this family, but not easy to identify. There is some controversy about their having a dangerous bite, but clear scientific evidence remains to be produced. Some points of view: https://www.arachnology.org/Arachnology/Pages/Hobo.html.
The spiders in this row are seen in summer mode, catching prey out in the open:
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| Funnel web spider, with part of web on bush. A sight often overlooked. American Tobacco Trail, Durham, NC, 9/29/11 | Funnel Web Spider, emerging from the "funnel" part of its web among pine needles, Piedmont Wildlife Center, Durham, NC, 5/8/10 | Funnel web spider (probably Agelenolopsis genus), Johnston Mill, Orange County, NC, 7/1/06 | Funnel web spider, Boone, Watauga County, NC, 8/7/06 | Funnel web spider with moth prey, Durham, NC, 9/24/08. |
Funnel web spider? Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Road access, 5/10/07, ventral view. The light color suggests that it's a recent molt. |
We know less about how funnel web spiders function in the winter, but this group of spiders, in the Barronopsis genus, hid in white cocoon-like enclosures beneath the bark of a rotting tree, but they are much tougher than moth cocoons and probably do an excellent job of protecting spiders from cold.
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| Funnel web spiders overwintering (Barronopsis genus). ID thanks to Jeff Hollenbeck. | Member of same species of funnel web spiders (Barronopsis genus). ID thanks to Jeff Hollenbeck. |
Nursery Web Spiders and Fishing Spiders (Pisauridae family, Lycosoidea, RTA Clade, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Pisauridae Eye Patterns (Elliott)
These spiders are noted both for their ability to walk on water and for their spiderlings, which stay together until relatively large. Their only use of silk is to build their "nursery webs."
Six-spotted Fishing Spiders (Dolomedes triton)
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| Six-spotted Fishing Spider (Dolomedes triton) with sea snail, Durham, NC, 5/03/05 | Six-spotted Fishing Spider, Durham, NC, 5/9/19 | Six-spotted Fishing Spider, Durham, NC, 6/9/11 |
Six-spotted Fishing Spider juveniles
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| Young fishing spider (Dolomedes genus), Durham, NC, 5/10/20. Genus ID thanks to Laura P. | Young fishing spider with leafhopper or aphid prey, Durham, NC, 8/9/20 | Juvenile Six-spotted Fishing Spider, Durham, NC, 8/18/20 | Spider, maybe Dolomedes genus, Durham, NC, 6/24/009 |
Dark Fishing Spiders (Dolomedes tenebrosus)
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| Male Dark Fishing Spider, Durham, NC, 6/6/11 | Dark Fishing Spider, Eno River State Park (Old Cole Mill Rd. access), Orange County, NC, 3/24/11 | Dark Fishing Spider, Cherryville, Gaston County, NC, 5/30/11. Photo by Destiny Canipe. | Dark Fishing Spider, seemed to be injured at first glance but was simply completely limp. It was large and apparently old. Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 7/18/11 | Dark Fishing Spider, indoors. Photo by Michaela Brown. ID is uncertain: markings aren't typical. |
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| Dark Fishing Spider, a lake in Illinois, 7/9/07, taken by Danielle Lessing. © 2007 Danielle Lessing | This picture gives a better picture of how big this Dark Fishing Spider was. Ms. Lessing said it seemed to be five inches across. |
Whitebanded Fishing Spiders (Dolomedes albineus)
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| Whitebanded Fishing Spider. ID thanks to John and Jane Balaban. Confirmed by wolfpacksved. |
Nursery Web Spiders (Pisaurina genus)
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| Nursery Web Spider (Pisaurina mira), Durham, NC, 9/1/22 | Nursery Web Spider (Pisaurina mira), Durham, NC, 9/13/11 | Nursery Web Spider (Pisaurina mira), Geithner Park, Hickory, Catawba County, NC, 9/25/09 | Nursery Web Spider (Pisaurina mira), Durham, NC, 9/10/20. ID uncertain. | Same Nursery Web Spider (Pisaurina mira), Durham, NC, 9/10/20. ID uncertain. | I'm guessing these are Nursery Web spiderlings. Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, Orange County, NC, 9/16/05. |
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| Nursery web spider (Pisaurina dubia), Durham, NC, 10/27/13 | Nursery web spider (Pisaurina dubia) | Nursery web spider (Pisaurina dubia), Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 9/12/12 |
Wolf Spiders (Lycosidae family, Lycosoidea, RTA Clade, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Lycosidae Eye Patterns (Elliott)
Tigrosa genus
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| Wolf spider (Tigrosa georgicola), Durham, NC, 5/5/14. ID thanks to Laura P. |
Allocosa genus
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| Wolf spider (Allocosa funerea), Durham, NC, 3/27/20 | Wolf spider (Allocosa funerea), Jordan Lake, Chatham County, NC, 11/29/15 | Wolf spider (Allocosa funerea), Durham, NC, 4/26/09 |
Pirata genus
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| Pirate Wolf Spider, Durham, NC, 1/21/13. ID thanks to Laura P. and John and Jane Balaban. | Pirate wolf spider (Pirata genus), Durham, NC, 1/14/22 | Pirate Wolf Spider, Durham, NC 11/17/20 | Pirate Wolf Spider, Durham, NC, 12/10/20 |
Gladicosa genus
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| Wolf spider (Gladicosa gulosa), Durham, NC, 2/6/19. ID thanks to Laura P. | Gladicosa pulchra, Johnston Mill Nature Preserve, Orange County, NC, 11/27/07. ID thanks to Laura P. |
Schizocosa genus
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| Lance Wolf Spider (Schizocosa avida), Durham, NC, 1/12/13 | Lance Wolf Spider (Schizocosa avida), Durham, NC, 11/1/06 | Wolf spider (Schizocosa crassipes), Durham, NC, 4/16/22 | Wolf spider (Schizocosa crassipes), Durham, NC, 5/5/15 | Wolf spider (Schizocosa crassipes), Durham, NC, 4/19/11 |
Rabidosa genus
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| Rabid Wolf Spider (Rabidosa rabida) carrying young, Durham, NC, 9/22/18 | Rabid Wolf Spider with egg sac, Durham, NC, 9/28/20 | Rabid Wolf Spider (Rabidosa rabida), relatively large and moving fast, at the Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 11/22/11 | Rabid Wolf Spider (Rabidosa rabida), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham, NC, 8/31/08 | Rabid Wolf Spider (Rabidosa rabida), a Jordan Lake gameland, 6/19/07 |
Trabeops genus
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| Wolf spider (Trabeops aurantiacus), Durham, NC, 2/17/17. ID thanks to Steve Scholnick. | Wolf spider (Trabeops auranticus), Durham, NC, 2/23/17 |
Lynx Spiders (Oxyopidae family, Lycosoidea, RTA Clade, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Oxyopidae Eye Arrangement (Elliott)
Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans)
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| Green Lynx Spider, Durham, NC, 9/4/12 | Green Lynx Spider with wasp prey, Durham, NC, 7/31/07 | Green Lynx Spider, Durham, NC, 8/10/13 | Green Lynx Spider, NC Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 7/17/09 |
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| Green Lynx Spider with egg sac, Durham, NC, 9/9/22 | Green Lynx Spider with egg sac, Durham, NC, 10/17/20 | Green Lynx Spider with egg sac, Durham, NC, 9/25/21 | Green Lynx Spider with an egg sac, Durham, NC, 9/25/22 | Green Lynx Spiders: mother and spiderlings with egg sac, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 10/27/13. This image illustrates this species' capability for camouflage. | Female Green Lynx Spider, in fall brown coloring, central Florida, 11/16/11. Photo taken by Chester Wheeler | Green Lynx Spider, with egg sac, Opelika, Lee County, AL, 10/16/13 | Green Lynx spiderlings of the spider on the left, Opelika, Lee County, AL, 10/16/13 |
Striped Lynx Spider (Oxyopes salticus)
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| Striped Lynx Spider, Durham, NC, 7/16/20 | Striped Lynx Spider, Durham, NC, 7/29/12 | Striped Lynx Spider, with small green prey, Boone, NC, 8/6/08 | Striped Lynx Spider, with large black prey, Durham, 8/16/08. |
No common name (Oxyopes aglossus)
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| Lynx spider (Oxyopedes aglossus), Durham, NC, 1/2/24 | Striped Lynx Spider (Oxyopes salticus), Durham, NC, 6/9/22 |
Crab Spiders (Thomisidae family, Dionycha, RTA Clade, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Whitebanded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes)
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| Male Whitebanded Crab Spider, Durham, NC, 9/7/12 | Male Whitebanded Crab Spider, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 8/12/08 | This male Whitebanded Spider was busily spinning a web. It looks as though this spider has only three legs; however, its two hind pairs are small and light-colored and didn't come out in these photos. The spider is missing one of its large black forelegs. Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, Durham County, NC, 9/16/05. | Same male Whitebanded Crab Spider |
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| White-banded Crab Spider, Durham, NC, 9/10/20 | Female Whitebanded Crab Spider, assuming yellow color, with bumblebee prey. Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 9/19/11 | Female Whitebanded Crab Spider also assuming yellow color, with bee prey, Durham, NC, 9/24/15 |
Goldenrod Spider (Misumena vatia)
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| Female Goldenrod Crab Spider, Durham, NC, 8/28/18 | Goldenrod Crab Spider, Tanawha Trail, Avery County, NC, 7/1/10 | Goldenrod spider?, a very young spider. | Male Goldenrod Spider, Durham, NC, 7/7/12. This one landed on a trail bollard. |
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| Very young Goldenrod spider, Durham, NC, 4/14/20 | Goldenrod Spider, Durham, NC, 9/8/16 | Goldenrod Spider (Misumena vatia), on oak catkin, on 3/30/20. | Goldenrod Spider, Durham, NC, 4/2/16 | Goldenrod Spider, Durham, NC, 5/31/14 |
Mecaphesa (formerly Misumenops) genus
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| Crab spider (Mecaphesa asperata), Blue Ridge Parkway, Avery County, NC, 8/2/12 | Female Flower Spider (Mecaphesa asperata), Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 10/2/05. | Crab Spider (Mecaphesa genus), Durham, NC, 8/13/05. Apparently lying in wait for prey. | Crab Spider (Mecaphesa genus) North Carolina Museum of Art outdoor trail, Wake County, NC, 5/8/07, with grasshopper prey. | Crab Spider (Mecaphesa genus), Durham, NC, 8/17/06. Showed up on door to our deck. |
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| Crab spider (Mecaphesa carletonica), Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines, Moore County, NC 10/31/14 | Male crab spider (Mecaphesa dubia), Durham, NC, 6/8/12 | Male crab spider (Mecaphesa dubia), Eno River SP, Old Cole Mill Road access, Orange County, NC, 6/23/05. This one showed up on my car. |
Synema genus
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| Crab spider (Synema parvulum), Durham, NC, 12/17/22 | Crab spider (Synema parvulum), Durham, NC, 10/27/20 | Crab spider (Synema parvulum), Durham, NC, 4/11/19 | Crab spider (Synema parvulum), Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 1/4/13 | Crab spider (Synema parvulum) with spider prey, Durham, NC, 3/17/12 | Crab spider (Synema parvulum), Durham, NC, 2/28/17 | Tiny crab spider (Synema parvulum), with prey, Indian Creek Trail, a Jordan Lake Game Land, Chatham County, NC, 7/7/06. |
Xysticus genus
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| Crab spider (Xysticus funestus), Durham, NC, 5/29/20 | Xysticus genus spider with egg sac. Flat River Waterfowl Impoundment, NC, 8/15/10 | Xysticus genus spider. Durham (swamp in my neighborhood), NC, 9/22/05. | Xysticus genus spider, Durham, NC, 10/1/05. Also found in local swamp. This spider was about ⅛ inch long. |
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| Xysticus genus spider, Wannamaker County Park, Charleston County, SC, 3/28/06 | Xysticus genus spider, Durham, NC, 5/17/08 | Xysticus genus spider with ant prey, Durham, NC, 5/27/09 |
Tmarus angulatus
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| Crab spider, Durham, NC, 7/2/12. ID thanks to John and Jane Balaban. | Crab spider, Durham, NC, 10/10/12 |
Bassaniana genus?
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| Crab Spider, Bassaniana genus maybe, Southern Village, Chapel Hill, NC, 5/7/09 |
Running Crab Spiders (Philodromidae family, Dionycha, RTA Clade, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Philodromidae Eye Arrangement (Elliott)
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| Running crab spider, Durham, NC, 3/29/24 | Running crab spider, Durham, NC, 10/26/21 | Male running crab spider, maybe Ebo genus, Durham, NC, 1/5/13 | Running crab spider, Congaree National Park, SC, 4/30/11. ID in doubt. | Running crab spider (Philodromus genus perhaps), Durham, NC, date unknown. ID thanks to John R. Maxwell. | Philodromus fuscamarginatus, Finnmark County, Norway, 1/30/11. Photo by Roy Erling Wrånes. |
Ground Spiders (Gnaphosidae family, Gnaphosoidea, Dionycha, RTA Clade, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
These are mainly nocturnal spiders that hide under rocks during the day, but every now and then we get a glimpse of them scurrying across a walking path. They may be often overlooked because they look like ants from a distance. However, they should not be confused with the "ant-mimic" spiders of Corinnidae, which look like brown ants up close.
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| Gnaphosa muscorum? Durham, NC, 6/9/05. You can see only six legs, but this small (magnified) spider apparently lost some. | Gnaphosa muscorum?Durham, NC, 6/16/05. The abdomens have different colors and different numbers of spots. | Ground spider (Sergiolus capulatus), Durham, NC, 2/17/06 | Ground spider (Cesonia bilineata), McAfee's Knob, Roanoke County, VA, 1/1/12 | Ground spider (Cesonia bilineata), Durham, NC, 6/13/06. | Ground Spider (Drassyllus genus), Durham, NC, 4/3/20. ID thanks to Laura P. |
Ant Mimic Spiders (Corinnidae family, Gnaphosoidea, Dionycha, RTA Clade, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Corinnidae Eye Arrangement (Elliott)
Ground sac spider (Castianeira longipalpa)
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| Ground Sac Spider, Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 6/6/11 | Antmimic spider, Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 5/15/15 | Ground sac spider, American Tobacco Trail (miles 0-2), Durham, NC, 5/2/10 | Ground sac spider, Southpoint Swamp, Durham, NC, 9/26/07, a moderate-sized spider. Thanks to Lynette Elliott for genus ID. | Ground sac spider, Durham, NC, 7/7/08 | Corinnid spider , Hanging Rock State Park, Stokes County, NC, 6/18/09 |
Red-spotted Ant Mimic Spider (Castianeira descripta)
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| Red-spotted Ant Mimic, Durham, NC, 11/20/07 | Red-spotted Ant Mimic Spider, Durham, NC, 5/18/08 |
No Common Name (Castianeira gertschi)
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| Durham, NC, 5/24/20 | Durham, NC, 6/2/11. ID thanks to Chad Heins. | Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 11/19/12 |
Pleasing Ant Mimic Spider (Castianeira amoena)
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| Ant mimic spider (Castianeira amoena), Durham, NC, 11/7/13 |
Sac Spiders (Clubionidae family)
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| Sac spider (Clubionidae family). Note the spinnerets at the end of the abdomen. Kyron thinks it might be a Clubiona genus member. | Sac spider, Durham, NC, 3/10/16 |
Jumping Spiders (Salticidae family, Dionycha, RTA Clade, Entelegynae, Araneomorphae infraorder)
Salticidae Eye Arrangements (by Lynette Elliot)
Jumping spiders seem to have excellent vision and quick response times. One thing that's obvious is that they (except those in the Synemosyninae subfamily) can make big moves, such as 180° complete turnabouts, almost instantaneously, and don't need to have a completely horizontal surface to do it, either! They pounce on prey rather than using webs to catch it.
No Subfamily
Attidops genus
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| Jumping spider (Attidops youngi, female), Durham, NC, 4/12/22 | Jumping spider (Attidops youngi, female), Durham, NC, 11/3/17 |
Synemosyna genus
These spiders mimic the ant Pseudomyrmex caeciliae very closely.
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| Male antmimic jumping spider (Synemosyna formica), Durham, NC, 5/27/14 | Antmimic jumping spider (Synemosyna formica), Durham, NC, 3/8/24 | Male antmimic jumping spider (Synemosyna formica), Durham, NC, 6/1/14 | Female ntmimic jumping spider (Synemosyna formica), Durham, NC, 3/3/23 | Female antmimic jumping spider (Synemosyna formica), Durham, NC, 12/29/20 | Female antmimic jumping spider (Synemosyna formica), Durham, NC, 12/10/20 | Female antmimic jumping spider (Synemosyna formica), Durham, NC, 10/25/14 | Apparently pregnant antmimic jumping spider (Synemosyna formica), Durham, NC, 5/5/19 |
Sarinda genus
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| Orange Antmimic Jumping Spider (Sarinda hentzi), Durham, 6/4/16 | Same Orange Antmimic Jumping Spider |
Peckhamia genus
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| Antmimic jumping spider (Peckhamia americana), Durham, NC, 9/29/20 | Same antmimic jumping spider |
Synageles genus
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| Antmimic jumping spider (Synageles genus), Durham, NC, 2/11/22. ID thanks to Chad Heins. | Antmimic jumping spider (Synageles noxiosus), Durham, NC, 3/8/24 |
Eris genus
Bronze Jumper (Eris Militaris)
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| Bronze Jumper, Durham, NC, 11/24/14 | Bronze Jumper, Durham, NC, 10/3/13 | Bronze Jumper, Durham, NC, 9/10/20 | Bronze Jumper, Durham, NC, 11/18/17 |
Lyssomaninae subfamily
Lyssomanes genus
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| Female Magnolia Green Jumping Spider (Lyssomanes viridis, subfamily Lyssomaninae), outdoor trail at the North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 5/8/07 | Male Magnolia Green Jumping Spider (Lyssomanes viridis), Durham, NC, 6/28/22 | Male Magnolia Green Jumping Spider (Lyssomanes viridis), which showed up on my hat at the Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, Wake County, NC, 5/22/09 | Male Magnolia Green Jumping Spider (Lyssomanes viridis), Durham, NC, 5/29/15 |
Euophryinae subfamily
Anasaitis genus
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| Twinflagged Jumping Spider (Anasaitis canosa), Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, NC, 6/25/08. ID thanks to Ryan Kaldari; see associated BugGuide page. |
Dendryphantinae subfamily
Paraphidippus genus
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| Jumping spider (Paraphidippus aurantius), Durham, NC, 7/3/21 | Same jumping spider (Paraphidippus aurantius), Durham, NC, 7/3/21 | Jumping spider (Phidippus aurantius), Durham, NC, 5/7/20. Is carrying prey. | Male jumping spider (Paraphidippus aurantius), Durham, NC, 5/19/15 | Very young jumping spider (Paraphidippus aurantius), Durham, NC, 2/22/12. | Jumping spider (probably Paraphidippus aurantius), Durham, NC, 5/11/21 | Very young jumping spider (Paraphidippus aurantius), Durham, NC, 2/10/20 | Jumping spider (probably Paraphidippus aurantius), Durham, NC, 11/7/21 |
Phidippus genus
Phidippus clarus
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| Male jumping spider (Phidippus clarus), Durham, NC, 6/24/23 | Female jumping spider, Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Raleigh, NC, 6/7/14 | Female jumping spider, with prey. Flat River Impoundment, Durham County, NC, 7/18/11 | Male jumping spider , Durham, NC, 6/15/08 | Male jumping spider with prey, Durham, NC, 5/29/08 |
Phidippus putnami
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| Jumping spider, Durham, NC, 6/14/13 | Jumping spider, Durham, NC, 10/8/20 | Jumping Spide, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 5/6/19 | Same jumping spider | Jumping spider, Durham, NC, 6/11/22 | Same jumping spider, Durham, NC, 6/11/22 |
Phidippus whitmani
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| Male jumping spider (Phidippus whitmani), at Abbott Lake, Peaks of Otter Recreational Area, Bedford County, Virginia, 7/9/09 |
Phidippus otiosus
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| Jumping spider, a female Phidippus otiosus, Durham, NC, 10/28/14 | Jumping spider (female Phidippus otiosus), Durham, NC, 10/3/14 | Jumping spider (male Phidippus otiosus), Durham, NC, 4/21/15 | Jumping spider (male Phidippus otiosus) on a pokeweed plant, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Orange County, NC, 10/29/15 | Big jumping spider (male Phidippus otiosis), Durham, NC, 4/20/12 | Another view of the big jumping spider (male Phidippus otiosus) |
Daring Jumping Spider (Phidippus audax)
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| Daring Jumping Spider (Phidippus audax), Durham, NC, 9/20/21 | Jumping spider, Durham, NC, 9/6/19 | Daring Jumping spider, Durham, NC, 9/5/17 | Same Daring Jumping Spider, Durham, NC, 9/5/17 | Daring Jumping spider, Durham, NC, 9/22/13 |
Phidippus mystaceus
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| Jumping spider (Phidippus mystaceus), Occoneechee Mountain, Orange County, NC, October 29, 2009 |
Phidippus princeps
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| Jumping spider (male Phidippus princeps), Penny's Bend Nature Preserve, Durham, NC, 4/4/09. ID thanks to Ryan Kaldari. | Jumping spider (Phidippus princeps), Durham, NC, 4/21/15. ID thanks to Don Cadle. | Jumping spider (female Phidippus princeps), Durham, NC, 9/30/15 | Jumping spider (female Phidippus princeps), Durham, NC, 7/1/15 | Jumping spider (female Phidippus princeps), Durham, NC, 10/7/14 | Jumping spider (female Phidippus princeps), Durham, NC, 10/23/15 | Jumping spider (female Phidippus princeps), Durham, NC, 10/23/15 |
Red-backed Jumping Spider (Phidippus johnsoni)
Note: these are generally believed to be Western spiders, so this is an interesting finding.
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| Durham, NC, 3/23/16. ID thanks to Sebastian A. Eccheverri, Ph.D. | Durham, NC, 5/5/15 |
Pelegrina genus
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| Peppered Jumping Spider (Pelegrina galathea), Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange County, NC, 5/10/14. | Peppered Jumper (Pelegrina galathea), Durham, NC, 5/8/08 | Jumping spider (male Pelegrina proterva), Durham, NC, 10/13/20 | Jumping spider (male Pelegrina proterva), Durham, NC, 10/23/23 | Jumping spider (another male Pelegrina proterva), Durham, NC, 3/27/17 | Jumping spider (yet another male Pelegrina Proterva), Durham, NC, 4/21/21 | Jumping spider (male Pelegrina proterva) | Jumping spider (yet another male Pelegrina Proterva), Durham, NC, 11/1/12 |
Colonus sylvanus
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| Jumping spider (female Colonus sylvanus), Durham, NC, 8/25/22 | Jumping spider (female Colonus sylvanus), Durham, NC, 6/5/14 | Jumping spider (juvie female Colonus sylvanus), Durham, NC, 9/16/20 | Jumping spider (female Colonus sylvanus), Durham, NC, 11/6/20 | Jumping spider (female Colonus sylvanus), Durham, NC, 5/17/19 | Durham, NC, 9/15/11 |
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| Jumping spider (male Colonus sylvanus), Durham, NC, 10/20/20 | Jumping spider (male Colonus sylvanus), Durham, NC, 5/17/19 | Male jumping spider (Colonus sylvanus), with prey | Jumping spider (male Colonus sylvanus), Durham, NC, 5/28/13 | Jumping spider (male Colonus sylvanus, Durham, NC, 5/21/16 | Jumping spider (male Colonus sylvanus, Durham, NC, 5/21/09 | Jumping spider (male Colonus sylvanus, Durham, NC, 9/25/11 |
Hentzia genus
Hentzia mitrata
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| Female, Durham, NC, 10/27/11 | Male, Durham, NC, 11/30/18 | Male, Durham, NC, 4/17/18 | Male, Durham, NC, 9/28/20 | Jumping spider (male Hentzia mitrata), Durham, NC, 5/11/21 | Male, Durham, NC, 3/7/16 | Female, Durham, NC, 11/13/17 |
Hentzia palmarum
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| Jumping spider, Durham, NC, 11/20/20 | Jumping spider, Durham, NC, 12/9/23 | Jumping spider, Durham, NC, 10/29/22 | Jumping spider, wiping eye, Durham, NC, 12/22/20 | Same jumping spider, wiping eye, Durham, NC, 12/22/20 | Female with wasp prey, Durham, NC, 3/30/18 | Female, Durham, NC, January 31, 2017 | Female, Durham, NC, 10/24/20 |
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| Female, Durham, NC, 11/2/20 | Female, Durham, NC, 10/20/20 | Female, Durham, NC, 3/7/16 | Female, Durham, NC, 11/13/17 | Female, Durham, NC, 11/17/16 | Male, Durham, NC, 6/11/20 |
Tutelina genus
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| Jumping spider (Tutelina elegans), Durham, NC, 6/11/09 |
Marpissinae subfamily
Marpissa genus
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| Jumping spider (Marpissa formosa), Durham, NC, 6/12/23 |
Platycryptus genus
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| Jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus) | Jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus), Durham, NC, 8/14/07. This was a relatively large spider, at least 13 mm long and very lively. | Jumping Spider (Platycryptus undatus),Durham, NC, 7/13/06. It is missing its left foreleg. |
Metacyrba genus
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| Jumping spider (Metacyrba taeniola), Durham, NC, 6/20/05 |
Maevia genus
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| Female Dimorphic Jumper (Maevia inclemens), Durham, NC, 5/30/15 | Female Dimorphic Jumper (Maevia inclemens), Durham, NC, 3/30/20 | Same female Dimorphic Jumper | Female Dimorphic Jumper (Maevia inclemens), Durham, NC, 7/10/14 | Female Dimorphic Jumper (Maevia inclemens), Eno River State Park, Old Cole Mill Road access, Orange County, NC, 7/27/07 | Male Dimorphic Jumper (Maevia inclemens), Third Fork Creek Trail, Durham, NC, 6/16/13 |
Spider Exuviae
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| Spider exuvia, Durham, NC, 7/25/09 | Spider exuvia. You can see the red chelicerae ending in black fangs. Durham, NC, 6/14/08 |