Shamrock Orb Weaver

Araneus trifolium

General Status Rank: 
Undetermined
ELCODE: 
ILARA81060
Common Name: 
Shamrock Orb Weaver
Scientific Name: 
Araneus trifolium
Synonyms: 
Epeira trifolium
Epeira aureola
Aranea gosogana
Naming References: 
W034
R197
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Arachnid (Spider)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Arthropoda
Class: 
Arachnida
Order: 
Araneae
Family: 
Araneidae
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

Females are among the largest spiders of the genus in Canada. Maturity of individuals of the species is from August to October (Dondale et al. 2003).
Habitat
Individuals build large orb webs in shrubs and in tall herbs such as goldenrod (Dondale et al. 2003).
References: 
R164
Distribution

Ecozones

References: 
B161

Distribution

Alaska to Newfoundland, south to California, New Mexico, and Alabama. In the NWT, the species has been recorded from near Norman Wells (Dondale et al. 2003) and in Nahanni National Park Reserve and Wood Buffalo National Park (GBIF).
References: 
HSS001

Number of Occurrences

Four to seven records in total. Dondale et al. (2003) records only one occurrence of this species in the NWT, from near Norman Wells. Six records of this species are recorded from the NWT in GBIF since Dondale was published: three occurrences from Nahanni National Park Reserve (Virginia Falls) and three from Wood Buffalo National Park (although these three are right on the NWT-Alberta; it's unclear which jurisdiction they belong to). Reference: (1) Dondale, C.D., Redner, J.H., Paquin, P., & Levi, H.W. 2003. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada. Part 23. The Orb-weaving Spiders of Canada and Alaska (Araneae: Uloboridae, Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Theridosomatidae). NRC Research Press, Ottawa, ON. 371 pp. (2) https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?country=CA&taxon_key=2160316&occurrence_status=present&gadm_gid=CAN.6_1
References: 
W034
HSS001
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Undetermined
Status Rank Description: 
Regional experts consider this species to be too poorly known in the NWT to be ranked accurately.
S Rank: 
SU
Decision Process Description: 
Rank drafted by S. Cannings, M. Anions, P. Paquin, D. Buckle, and R. Bennett in 2010. Rank reviewed in 2014 and 2023 by R. Bennett; no change from Undetermined.
Last Updated: 
July 18, 2024
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
-

References

Ecozones

  • Dondale, C.D., J.H. Redner, P. Paquin, and H.W. Levi (2003) The Insects and Arachnids of Canada, Part 23, The Orb-Weaving Spiders of Canada and Alaska, Araneae: Uloboridae, Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Theridiosomatidae. NRS Research Press ENR Library QL 434.52.A1I5 pt.23 - B161 Return

Habitat

  • Dondale, C.D., Redner, J.H. and Marusik, Y.M. (1997) Spiders (Araneae) of the Yukon in Danks, H.V. and J.A. Downes. 1997. Insects of the Yukon.. Biological Survey of Cnada (Terrestrial Arthropods) pp.73-113 http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/pdf/dondale.pdf - R164 Return

Naming

  • Shorthouse, D. Editor (2007) The Nearctic Spider Database. WWW Electronic Publication http://canadianarachnology.dyndns.org/data/canada_spiders/ - W034 Return
  • Bennett, Robb (2010) DRAFT LIST OF SPIDERS IN CANADA Phylum Chelicerata; Class Arachnida; Order Araneae. - R197 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Shorthouse, D. Editor (2007) The Nearctic Spider Database. WWW Electronic Publication http://canadianarachnology.dyndns.org/data/canada_spiders/ - W034 Return
  • Bennett R. in Hebert, R. (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS Spiders with ranks poposed by Robb Bennett (09/05/2014). e copy - HSS001 Return

Range Extent

  • Bennett R. in Hebert, R. (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS Spiders with ranks poposed by Robb Bennett (09/05/2014). e copy - HSS001 Return