Iridescent Antmimic Ground Spider

Micaria pulicaria

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ILARAN1180
Common Name: 
Iridescent Antmimic Ground Spider
Scientific Name: 
Micaria pulicaria
Synonyms: 
Clubiona pulicaria
Drassus lugubris
Micaria montana
Macaria formosa
Micaria gentilis
Micaria similis
Micaria perfecta
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Arachnid (Spider)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Arthropoda
Class: 
Arachnida
Order: 
Araneae
Family: 
Gnaphosidae
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

In Canada, mature individuals of this species have been observed between April and November. Looking at the global range, this extends to year round (Platnick & Dondale 1992).
Habitat
Specimens have been found in fields, meadows, deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, bogs, and fens; on beaches and salt marshes; and in buildings (Platnick & Dondale 1992).
Distribution

Distribution

Alaska to Newfoundland, south to California and Texas; Europe, Asia. In the NWT, the species has been recorded from Norman Wells, Yellowknife, the Fort Providence area and along the Mackenzie River towards Fort Simpson, Wood Buffalo National Park, and Fort Smith (Platnick & Dondale 1992, Loboda et al. 2013, GBIF).

Number of Occurrences

There are total of 23 records of this species in the NWT. There are an unreported number of records of this species in Norman Wells and Yellowknife (Loboda et al. 2013). Platnick & Dondale (1992) note five records of the species from the NWT; mostly around Great Slave Lake and along the Mackenzie River to north of Fort Simpson. GBIF reports an additional 16 records of this species in the NWT; all from the area of Wood Buffalo National Park and Fort Smith. References: (1) Platnick, N.I. & Dondale, C.D. 1992. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada. Part 19. The ground spiders of Canada and Alaska (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). NRC Research Press, Ottawa, ON. 302 pp. (2) Loboda et al. 2013. Unpublished spider data from Northern Biodiversity Program. (3) https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?country=CA&taxon_key=5168243&occurrence_status=present&gadm_gid=CAN.6_1
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
Probably secure. Regional experts consider this species to be common in the NWT.
S Rank: 
S4S5
Decision Process Description: 
Originally ranked in 2010 by S. Cannings, M. Anions, P. Paquin, D. Buckle, and R. Bennett. Modified in 2014 by R. Bennett from Undetermined to Secure.
Last Updated: 
August 7, 2024
Status Designations

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

COSEWIC Status: 
-

References