Micrathena gracilis
(Headstrom, 1973)

James Beck



M. gracilis is a member of the class Arachnida, order Araneae, and Family Araneidae.

Description:

As described by Richard Headstrom in "Spiders of the United States", the female is about 1/4 an inch long and the male is smaller. The female's abdomen has five pairs of spines. One near the base, the second midway in length, and the other three are at the posterior end of the abdomen. They can be white yellow, and brown, in spots and marks likesagitta's. However, some are all white or black. The male is has a long slinder abdomen without any spines. My specimens have been donated to the Natural History museum at the University of Georgia.


Key:










Distribution and Abundance:

Micrathena gracilis
AREA STATUS REFERENCES
North America:
Continental United States; Canada		Yes Milne, 1995
Eastern North America:
United States east of Mississippi;
Ontario and eastern Canada		YesLevi, 1968
Southeastern United States:
AL AR DE DC FL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV		YesLevi, 1968
Southern Appalachian States:
AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV		YesLevi, 1968
Coastal PlainYesLevi, 1968
PiedmontYesLevi, 1968
Blue Ridge MountainsYesLevi, 1968
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
YesLevi, 1968
Ridge and ValleyYesLevi, 1968
Cumberland PlateauYesLevi, 1968
Central Arch?-
GeorgiaYesLevi, 1968
Clarke County, GeorgiaYesJames Beck, Pers. Ob.
Sams FarmYesJames Beck, Pers. Ob.
Old Field
None observedJames Beck, Pers. Ob.
Wetland
?-
Woods
Very CommonJames Beck, Pers. Ob.
1-Hectare Plot
Very CommonJames Beck, Pers. Ob.


How do I find these guys:

M. gracilis can easily be found during the spring, summer, and fall. Just go into the woods and look for webs at breast height. The spiders should be at the hub of the web just waiting for prey to come.


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