About Araneus trifolium (Hentz, 1847)
Araneus trifolium, commonly known as the shamrock orbweaver, is an orb weaver species belonging to the spider family Araneidae. This species is found across the entire United States and in Canada. The abdomen of Araneus trifolium comes in a range of different colors. The most common abdominal colors are beige and brown. Occasionally, brown abdomens may have a subtle greenish tint, or the abdomen may even be yellow or orange. When it has a yellow or orange abdomen, Araneus trifolium is sometimes mistaken for Araneus marmoreus, the orange orb weaver also known as the pumpkin spider. The shamrock orbweaver can be told apart from other orb weaver species by the multiple white dots visible on its back. Its legs are typically brown or beige, marked with several white bands around each leg joint. Like other orb weavers, the shamrock spider builds a web to capture its prey. Small flying insects that fly into the web become trapped in its sticky threads. An orb weaver web created by this species can reach up to two feet, or 60 cm, in diameter. While a bite from a shamrock orbweaver can be painful, it is not dangerous to humans, and its effects are similar to those of a bee sting.
