Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
• Spruce-fir Moss Spider occurs in well-drained moss and liverwort mats growing on rocks in well-shaded areas of Spruce–fir forests in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. As published in the Federal Register (USFWS 2001), the USFWS designated primary elements found in the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina and portions of the Cherokee National Forest in North Carolina and Tennessee as critical habitat for this species. Within these areas, the primary elements considered as critical habitat include the Fraser Fir or fir-dominated Spruce–fir forests at and above 5,400 feet elevations. It also includes moderately thick and sheltered mats of humid (not wet) moss and liverwort growing on rocks that have a thin layer of soil or humus between the moss and the rock found under the spruce and fir trees. • Status surveys conducted on three species resulted in NCNHP recommendations that Eastern Arogos Skipper be listed as threatened (Hall et al.1999a, 1999b) and an undescribed species of dusted skipper ( Atrytonopsis sp. 1) be listed as endangered after its taxonomic status has been resolved (Hall 2003) . Results from a status survey for the Venus Flytrap Cutworm Moth indicate that this species be recommended for listing as endangered (Hall and Sullivan 2000, 2004) . • At least three other species are believed to have been extirpated from the state: Regal Fritillary, Eastern Arogos Skipper, and Southern Dusted Skipper. Repeated surveys for these species have failed to detect their presence at sites where they were formerly known to occur. Several other insect species are also known only from historic records, but no real surveys have been made. A complete list of all species tracked by the NCNHP, including insects, is published in the report “List of the Rare Animal Species of North Carolina” (Ratcliffe et al. 2024) . Tracked species include those listed as endangered, threatened, special concern, and significantly rare. The arachnid list is selective of cave and other montane species and is not intended to be a complete list of the rare arachnids in the state. Checklists for arachnids, bees, beetles, butterflies and moths, dragonflies, hoppers and orthoptera are available from the NC Biodiversity Project website https://nc-biodiversity.com/taxonomic-groups. 3.10.3 Knowledge Gaps Conservation of insects in North Carolina requires more surveys, research, and monitoring of species, as well as management, restoration, and protection of habitat. Our understanding of this group of species is far lower than almost any other animal group in the state because there are few biologists focused on the type of surveys, research, and monitoring activities needed to understand them. They are an integral part of the ecosystems they share with other species, and it is important to take advantage of any opportunities to expand our knowledge and understanding when possible.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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