Araneus iviei (Archer 1951)

Material examined.— Canada: Québec: Rouyn­Noranda: Labyrinthe Lake [48°14’N, 79°29’W] 29.vii.–04.viii.1996, pitfall in White cedar/Balsam fir forest, 1ɗ, P. Paquin & N. Dupérré (CPAD); Baie­James (Jamésie): Villebois [49°01’N, 79°08’W] 13.–20.vii.1997, flight interception trap in mature Black spruce forest, 1ɗ, P. Paquin & N. Dupérré (CPAD).

Diagnosis.— Araneus ivei superficially resembles A. trifolium but the males differ from all other Araneus species by the shape of the embolus and conductor, the nearly straight elongate terminal apophysis, and the small pointed terminal spine of the median apophysis. Females are distinguished by a dome­shaped epigynum and a rather smooth elongate scape enlarging distally.

Distribution.— Widespread species in Canada, from British Columbia to Nova Scotia with a few records in eastern US from Michigan to Pennsylvania.

Remark.— The occurrence of the species in Québec was suspected by Hutchinson & Bélanger (1994) and Paquin et al. (2001). Paquin & Dupérré (2003) included A. iviei as a probable record for Québec and provided illustrations for its identification (figs 272–274). Dondale et al. (2003) included a record from Québec on the distribution map, but did not give any details. The details of that record are given here: Réserve faunique des Laurentides, near Rivière Malbaie [47°41’N, 70°51’W] 26.vii.–02.viii.2000, 1ɗ, M. Larrivée (CNC). These records from Québec fill a gap in the transcontinental distribution of the species.