commonspidersuni00emer

v.
7^ c
THE
COMMON
SPIDERS
OF THE
UNITED STATES
By
« 8 « 5
JAMKS
7
H.
EMERTON
»
Boston, U.S.A., and
London
GINN & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
Cbe
Sitbcnacttm |)rc60
Entered at Stationers' Hall
Copyright,
JAMES
H.
1902,
by
E.MERTON
ALL RItlHTS RESERVED
24.12
BiomedicaJ
Library
US'
FS3C.
PREFACE
There
either
are
are few books on the
large
American
and expensive works or
published by scientific societies, and so
public.
Since publishing
Canadian spiders
emy from 1882
in
to 1894,
my
I
special
papers
known
to
else
little
New
papers on the
Transactions of
the
and these
spiders,
England and
Connecticut Acad-
tJie
have had frequent
the
calls for a smaller
and simpler book to meet the wants of readers who, without
making a
special study of the subject,
about spiders in general and
often meet with.
It
is
want
to
know
a
little
especially those species that they
hoped
this
book
will
answer the pur-
pose and help to lessen the prejudice against spiders, and lead
to
a
more general acquaintance with them,
knowledge
of
birds
and
The
butterflies.
like
the popular
characters used in
the descriptions are, as far as possible, those that can be seen
without microscopic examination and without
in
the handling of small animals.
the form and markings
of
The
much
illustrations,
experience
which show
every species, are from
drawings and photographs, a large
part
of
my own
them made new
for this book.
J.
April, 1902.
H.
EMERTON.
CONTENTS
Introduction
p^^e
Number and Names of Spiders
Anatomy
vii
viii
Silk and Spinning Organs
x
Colors and Markings
.....
..........
.....
..........
..........
.........
..........
.........
Habitats of Common Spiders
Cobwebs
Catching and preserving Spiders
The Drassid.e
Clubiona
The Dysderidte
The Thomisid^
Misumena
Xysticus
Philodromus
The Attid^
The Lycosid^
Lycosa
Pardosa
dolomedes
Ocyale
xii-xiv
xvi
xvii
1-21
15
22
24-40
25
30
35
41-66
67-90
..........
..........
68
78
85
88
OXYOPES
88
The AgalenidyE
The Theridid^
gi-io6
107-133
no
Theridium
.119
Steatoda
Pholcus
scytodes
xi
128
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.131
CONTENTS
vi
.........
The Linyphiad/E
LiXVPHIA
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Page
134-153
.134
.
Erigoxe
The
14S
EPEiRiDyE
154-204
Round Webs of the
Epeikid.e
15 5- '59
Species of Epeira
1C0-181
..........
The Three Species of the Genus Zilla
acrosoma
.
.
.
Argiope
Amaurobius
Uloborus
Hyptiotes
Filistata
198-204
...
.......
CiNiFLONiD/E, OR Cribellata
Dictyna
188
192-198
Tetragnatha
The
184
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.216
..........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
205
213
.
.
.
205-220
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
218
220
INTRODUCTION
This book
common
the
of the
is
designed to make the reader acquainted with
spiders most likely to be found over a large part
United States as
neighborhood of any
Local collections show that
and
but few such collections
;
is
not yet possible to
in
any particular
it
kinds of spiders that live
the
in
the country there are at least three
city in
hundred species of spiders
or four
have been made,
Georgia and as far west as
far south as
Rocky Mountains.
the
all
the
how
far
tell
place, or
The species which
them well known and
Rare and doubtful species
any species extends over the country.
are here described and figured are
have been described
in other
are omitted, though some
the most
common.
A
books.
of these
large
of
all
may
number
in
time prove to be
among
of spiders are too small to
be easily seen, and most of these are omitted, only a few representative species being described.
no
common names,
Spiders have, unfortunately,
except such indefinite ones as " the garden
"the black spider," "the jumping spider," and the
Even "tarantula" has become only a nickname for
any large spider. The names of spiders, like those of other
animals, have been given to them independently by different
persons, so that many of them have more than one name, and
the more common the spider the larger the number of names.
In this book only one name is usually given to each species, and
the name used is one that has been published with a description of the species in some other well-known book.
Readers
who are interested in the names of species and in comparing
spider,"
like.
the
classifications
of
different
naturalists
are
referred
to
a
INTRODUCTIOxN
viii
" Catalogue of
the Described Araneae
America," by George Marx,
of
Temperate North
Proceedings of
in the
tJie
United
XationalMnseum, 1890, which is a useful index to what
has been published on American spiders.
The front half of a spider's body, called the cephalothorax,
States
contains in one piece the head and thorax, the only outward
division
between them being shallow grooves from the middle
In the middle of the cephaloback to the front legs.
thorax is usually a groove or depression, under which, inside,
is a muscle that moves the sucking apparatus by which food is
of the
drawn
At the
mouth.
into the
sides of the thoracic part are
four pairs of legs, and on the head part are a pair of palpi
The
and a pair of mandibles.
legs have seven joints: (i) the
coxa, the thick basal joint, having
chanter, a short joint
coxa
;
(3)
moving very
of the
the patella and
tibia.
(2)
freely on the
end
the troof the
and
The
(7)
femur;
(5)
tibia,
joined closely to
;
-pa1pj are like
the front of the
the
moving with it up and down (6) the metathe tarsus, moving together on the end of the
small legs and have one less joint
The mandibles
head (fig. 2). They are
than the walking legs.
joint stout
moving up and
directions; (4) the patella,
all
down on the end
;
motion;
the femur, the largest joint of the leg, moving with
the trochanter in
tarsus
little
and the end
The claw has near
its
of the poison gland.
are close together at
two-jointed, the basal
joint or claw slender
and sharp-pointed.
point a small hole, which
The poison
the outlet
is
kills or disables
the insects
which are captured by the spider. Its effect on the human
sometimes it has no effect at
skin varies in different persons
;
all
of
;
oftener
it
causes some soreness and itching like the stings
mosquitoes and bees, and cases have been known in which it
Spiders
caused serious inflammation which lasted a long time.
seldom
to
bite,
and only
them being
in defense, the bites so
often the
work
commonly charged
of other animals.
INTRODUCTION
On
IX
the front of the head are the eyes, usually eight in
number, differing
in
size
and arrangement according
TARSUS
to
the
CLAW or
MANDIBLE
MANDIBLE
mAxilla
LABIUM
y^
OPENING
OrAIR SACS
EPIGYNUM
^i
MANDIBLES
TRACHEA
CLAW
Mf\--VsPlNIMERETS
Fig.
Fig.
I.
2.
Diagram
of the under side of a spider, with the legs removed except one.
Front of head, showing the eyes and mandibles.
kind of spider.
distances.
The
sight of spiders
is
distinct for only short
Spiders of middle size can see each other, and the
INTRODUCTION
X
insects which they eat, at a distance of four or five inches, but
beyond that do not seem to see anything clearly. At the ends
of the feet are two claws, curved and with teeth along the inner
edge, and in many spiders there is a third shorter claw between
them (fig. 212). The claws are sometimes surrounded by a
brush of flattened hairs
(figs.
104,
14).
1
The
basal joints of the
palpi are flattened and have their inner edges extended forward
chew the food.
Between the maxillae is a small
the labium, and between the legs is a larger oval
so that they can be used as jaws to press or
These
are called the m.axillse.
piece called
piece called the sternum.
The hinder
abdomen, is connected with
It has at the
the cephalothorax by a narrow stem (fig. i).
hinder end the spinnerets, three pairs of appendages having
at
half of the body, the
their ends a
number of microscopic tubes through
drawn out. When not in use the spin-
great
which the thread
is
nerets are folded together, so that the smaller inner pair are
concealed.
i
The thread
of spiders
resembles that spun by caterpillars
in
making their cocoons, and can be manufactured in the same
way into silk cloth. The spider's thread is composed of a great
number of finer threads passing from the body through separate
tubes and uniting into one before they have time to dry.
This
can be seen by examining the attachments of spiders' threads
to glass.
All the spinning tubes are not alike, but on certain
parts of the spinnerets are larger or differently shaped tubes,
and these are the outlets
spider's
of glands of different kinds in the
abdomen, and are used
in
making
different kinds of
threads for certain parts of the webs, nests, or cocoons. \
In front
of
the spinnerets on the under side
opening to the tracheae, or air-tubes
of the
abdomen on the under
skin, at the
side
is
(fig.
i).
At
is
a small
the front
a transverse fold of the
ends of which are the openings of the air-sacs or
INTRODUCTION
lungs,
xi
and between them the opening of
organs
(fig.
The
i).
latter
is
covered
in
the
reproductive
females by an appa-
sometimes large and complicated, called the epigynum.
Its presence shows that the fermile is full grown.
Young
Male spiders have the ends of the palpi
spiders do not have it.
ratus,
enlarged, and under the terminal joint what
is
known as the
The pres-
palpal organ, sometimes very complicated in shape.
ence of
these
Young males
organs
shows that the male
is
flill
grown.
that have nearly reached maturity have the ends
Male spiders almost always have
the body smaller and the legs longer than females of the same
of the palpi simply enlarged.
species.
The
colors of spiders are partly in the skin itself and partly
and scales that cover
in the hairs
it.
covered with hair of some kind, but
fine
and short that
the skin
is
it
has
little effect
in
Almost all spiders are
some species it is so
on the
sometimes with scales somewhat
like
those of butterflies,
The
tened and feathered or toothed on the edges.
spiders are very varied, and in
many
spiders, as brilliant as those of butterflies.
common
colors are grays
or plants and stones
is
uniform
the spiders
is
live.
over the body, except that
darker toward the head and the ends of the
common marking
flat-
color* of
The most
and browns, resembling the ground
among which
all
and
species, especially of the
jumping
the color
In others
color.
entirely covered with hairs of various lengths
Sometimes
it is
a little
The most
abdomen over
feet.
a spot on the front of the
the spider's heart, sometimes merely a translucent part of the
skin and sometimes a definite color spot darker in the middle
and outlined with a lighter shade or white. The hinder half
of the abdomen is often marked with several pairs of spots,
becoming smaller toward the end, and these spots may be
united into a pair of stripes or a more complicated pattern.
(See figures.)
The
legs are often
marked wi|h rings
of color,
INTRODUCTION
xii
almost always at the ends of the joints.
markings there are
in
some
common
Besides these
spiders strong contrasts of color,
such as bright red or yellow spots on a black ground.
among
males, especially
In the
the Attidas, there are often shining
and
scales that reflect different colors in a bright light,
tufts of
black or white hairs about the head and front legs.
Spiders live in
kinds of places.
all
Certain
species are
attached to houses and seldom found far from them, and
The
of these occur over a large part of the world.
in
the corners of rooms are chiefly the work of
tcpidarionun
light
many
webs
TJieridiiim
112), occasionally of Steatoda borealis (p. 119)
(p.
and Steatoda triangiilosa
about
the
stairs
In cellars the thin webs
121).
(p.
and shelves are those of the long-legged
PJiolcns pJialangioidcs
(pp.
the
(p.
129) or of LinypJiia nebidosa or mi7iuta
and the thick
144, 145),
beams are those
side of houses live
webs
flat
corners and between
in
of Tegenaria dcrJiaviii (p. 96).
two jumping
Epiblemutn scenicinn
(p. 60),
spiders, the
On
a small grav species the color of
weathered wood, and the other, JMarptiisa faniiliaris
Some
of the
houses.
round-web spiders
The
great
live in
st7-ix,
hide in cragks and at night
round webs
porches, barns, and bridges.
part of the country Epeira cinerea
Epeu'a globosa
(p.
174)
is
(p.
(p.
in cellars,
(p.
160),
make
their
In the northern
often found on the outside of houses,
(p.
215), a large imported species,
and several Dictyna
on the outside
61).
165) has the same habit.
and so are Zilla atrica and Zilla x-notata
ferox
(p.
numbers about
three brown species, Epeira sclopetaria
patagiata, and
in
the out-
most common being
of houses,
(p.
is
185).
Amajirobiiis
sometimes found
206) live in great numbers
in corners of
windows, under the
edges of shingles, or in cracks of walls, spreading their webs
wherever there
is
room
for
them and gathering dust
they often make a distinct spot on the
states Filistata hibernalis (p
220)
is
wall.
so that
In the southern
one of the most common
INTRODUCTION
spiders about houses.
Its
webs often make
dust a foot or more in diameter.
the ground furnish
Steatoda borealis
viarniorata
119),
(p.
and
places,
(p.
122).
(p.
50)
silk
and
large
jumping
tripjinctatiis
(p.
make
under stones near the ground.
Drassiis saccatns
tJicsima atra
(p.
Lycosa nidicola
(p.
5),
(p.
69),
Phidippus mystaceus
large nests of
The ground
Lycosa conmiimis
and cinerea
under shelters of this kind.
live
spiders.
Latrodcctiis mactans
is
GnapJiosa conspersa
6),
of
and guttata
121),
(p.
2),
white
spiders,
and Pros-
run on the ground and hide under stones.
tensis (p. 69), polita (p. 70),
Xysticus
number
(p.
spiders,
51),
(p.
round spot of
122) are found in such
the South,
so, especially in
The
a
Stones and sticks lying on
shelter for a great
120) and Asagena anicricana
(p.
xiii
The
(p.
(p. 75),
Lycosa pra-
74) are often found
crab spiders of the genus
under stones, but oftener under bark farther
from the ground.
In the summer, plants of
all
kinds from grass to trees are
full
(pp. 68 to 84) run among the short
grass.
The small species of Linyphia (p. 34) and Erigone
(p. 148) make their flat webs close to the ground among small
plants.
LinypJiia viarginata, commit Jiis, coccinea, 2ind phrygiana
of spiders.
The Lycosas
1
make
among plants and rocks, a foot or two above the
The Theridiums (p. no) live between leaves and on
theirs
ground.
the ends of twigs, covering them with webs that only show
when the dew
91 to 95) makes
webs on the grass and anywhere else where it can find a
The jumping spiders (p. 41) run about
place to fasten them.
for their prey on plants, and some of them have silk nests
among the leaves. The Misumenas (p. 25) live among flowers
and wait for insects to alight within reach. The webs of
Dictyna (p. 206) are commonest on the ends of grass and
twigs, and are known by the dust that they gather.
The
round-web spiders mature in the middle of the summer, and
its flat
is
on them.
Agalc7ia
jicBvia (pp.
INTRODUCTION
xiv
then Epeh-a trivittata
and
i66)
(p.
is
found on
grass,
(p.
171) in hidden nests near their webs.
later
and
sylvatica,
Epeira msidaris
nordnianni
Cyclosa conica
trees.
Uloborus
woods.
(p.
(p.
162)
(p.
183),
kinds of bushes
all
and
169) and Epeira tvifolunn
live
Acrosoma
Epeira angiilata,
among bushes and
spiiiea (p.
190),
and
among low bushes in openings of the
218) lives among the lower dead branches
216) live
(p.
Hyptiotes
of pines, perching
(p.
on the end of a twig which
it
exactly matches
in color.
The marshes
Tetragnathas
and ditches.
are the
(p.
of great
Epeira gibberosa
their horizontal
numbers
(p.
marshes and open
of spiders.
175) and/'/rt:«V/(«
and oblique webs among the
The two
places.
home
The
198) live there, especially along the streams
tall
(p.
176)
make
grass in open
swarm in
autumn become conspicuous by
and when they disappear leave over
species of Argiope (pp. 193 to 198)
fields
and
in
and bright colors,
winter their brown cocoons (pp. 197, 200) fastened to the grass.
The moss and dead leaves in the woods are alive with
spiders
even in summer some species always live there, and
in winter the young of those that in warm weather live among
the bushes find shelter where they can remain torpid through
their size
;
the cold season without freezing.
The eggs
of spiders are covered with silk,
which varies much
Some
spiders
hang
in
it
in
stones, and others carry
shape and color
different species.
the web, others attach
it
it
to plants or
about with them either in the mandi-
bles or attached behind to the spinnerets.
in the
in
forming a cocoon
The young remain
cocoon until they are able to run about, and after com-
ing out of the cocoon keep together for a short time, sometimes
web which they make
common, sometimes in a nest
made by the mother, and in some species on the mother's
back, but they soon scatter and hunt their own food or make
in
a
in
cobwebs, according to the habits of the species.
INTRODUCTION
XV
mature and breed at different
them living only one season. Those
Different kinds of spiders
times of the year, most of
that mature late,
winter as eggs,
sclopctaria
Some
\ikt_^ga/eua
\m^E
and Lycosa
species, like
and Argiope, pass the
mature
nidicola, pass
early,
Epeira
like
the winter half grown.
Thcridiuin tcpidarioruvi
the year, and
eral times in
Jicevia
those that
(p.
1 1
2),
breed sev-
and young are found
old
at all
seasons.
The
(i)
spiders are naturally divided into two groups of families:
the hunting spiders, which run on the ground or on plants,
among
come within their reach
(2) the cobweb spiders, which make webs to catch insects and
live all the time in the web or in a nest near it.
The hunting spiders include: (i) the Dysderidae (p. 22), a
catching insects wherever they find them, or waiting
leaves and
flowers
few species with
six
until
insects
;
eyes only and with four breathing holes at
abdomen (2) the Drassidas (p. i), or
ground spiders, which live among stones and dead leaves or
among plants, making tubular nests and flat ^gg cocoons but
the front end of the
no cobwebs
;
(3)
;
the Thomisidas
(p.
24), the flat
and crab-like
spiders living on plants or under bark and stones; (4) the
Attidae (p. 41), the jumping spiders, with wide heads and
large front eyes,
many
of
them brightly colored and
active in
their habits; (5) the Lycosidae (p. 6^), the long-legged running spiders, living on the ground and, a few of them, in holes
and carrying about their round ^gg cocoons attached
to the
spinnerets.
The cobweb
spiders include
:
(i)
the Agalenidae
(p. 91),
mak-
webs on grass or in corners of houses, with a tube at
in which the spider lives; (2) the Therididac (p. 107),
round spiders with flat or irregular webs in corners and on
ing
flat
one side
plants;
(3)
the
Linyphiadae
spiders of a great
number
(p.
134),
with
fiat
webs, small
of species living near the
ground
INTRODUCTION
xvi
and
shady places
in
spiders
(5)
;
;
the Eipeiridae
(4)
154), the
(p.
round-web
the Cribellata, having a calamistrum (see
p.
205)
on the hind legs and making rough webs that gather dust.
Cobwebs are of four principal kinds
1. The fiat webs, closely woven of long threads crossed by
:
ones
finer
in all directions
and connected with a tubular nest
where the spider hides, and from which it runs out on the
upper side of the web after insects that may fall upon it.
These are made by Agalena and Tegenaria (pp. 91 to 104).
The
2.
net-like
meshes, sometimes
in
3.
smooth threads
of
in
large
curved sheet held out by threads
The spider lives on the under side, back
These are made by Therididae and Linyphiadae
directions.
all
downward.
(pp.
made
webs,
in a fiat or
107, 134).
The round webs, made
from a
of threads radiating
common
center and crossed by circular loops and spirals, part of which
are adhesive.
4.
The webs
bands of
The
tion
is
of the Cinifionidae,
composed
in part of loose
silk (p. 205).
simplest and best
to put
them
way
to preserve spiders for examina-
in alcohol.
It
kills
them immediately and
keeps their form and markings and, to a great extent, their
colors.
or jars.
They may be kept
It is
alive for a
few days
in glass bottles
make holes in the covers, or to
They need water, and this can be fur-
not necessary to
feed the spiders often.
nished them conveniently by putting a piece of wet paper or
rag in the bottle.
If
one wishes to find what spiders
they must be looked for at
The house and
watched
all
cellar should
until they are fully
live in his
times and in
all
neighborhood,
kinds of places.
be looked over and the spiders
grown.
The
outside of the house
and fences should be looked over occasionally
only those spiders being taken that are
full
in
the same way,
grown, unless they
INTRODUCTION
are of
new
or rare kinds.
A
great
xvii
many
spiders
may be found
on the garden fences of a shady street, especially
summer and
again in the autumn.
more
in
active
The
writer always carries two small
common homeopathic medicine
one a
are
the middle of the day and more likely then
be wandering about.
to
bottles,
in the early
At both seasons they
holding one
vial,
drams and half full of alcohol, the other a straight tube
vial, without any neck and about the same size, that is kept
always dry and occasionally wiped out to remove the threads
or two
that are
made in it. The dry bottle is placed quickly over the
moved about until the spider is coaxed to go into it.
spider and
The
bottle
is
then turned up and closed with a finger until the
other bottle can be uncorked and the spider shaken into the
alcohol.
In the fields and along the country roads the stones
and sticks that have been lying for some time on the ground
should be carefully lifted and searched, both on the under surface and on the ground below.
The stones and sticks should
be turned back into the same places so that other spiders
may
find at
once comfortable places to hide under.
new ground,
are dropped on
are
fit
to
use
again.
may be
it
Among
trees
If
they
a year before they
and shrubs the best
things are to be found by moving slowly about and watching
and cobwebs without disturbing them.
webs can be best seen when moving toward the light.
for spiders, nests,
greatest
number
of spiders can usually be
The
The
found along paths
and the edges of woods, and paths through the woods are the
best places for
many ground
spiders.
Spiders should be looked for
in
the same
way
in grass,
by
creeping along on the ground or by sitting down and watching
until
something walks into view
;
or the grass and
weeds may
be swept with a cotton bag, fastened on a hoop like a dip net,
with a short handle, and the spiders picked out with a dry
bottle from among: the leaves
and insects that
will
be g-athered
INTRODUCTION
xviii
Bushes may be swept
with them.
in the
same way, or may be
shaken over an open umbrella, or a piece of cloth or paper.
when
In
numbers can be found
for some years
in the woods.
A common coal sieve is fine enough to hold the
leaves while the spiders and sticks and dirt pass through, and
may be picked over on a cloth or carried home in a bag and
examined in the house. The sifting should be repeated several
winter,
spiders are torpid, great
by sifting the dead leaves that have been lying
times, as
many
of the spiders hold to threads
and become loosened only
after
much
among
shaking.
In the following pages a general description
by descriptions
family, followed
the leaves
is
given of each
of the species belonging to
it,
with a figure of each species placed as near as possible to the
In
description.
some
cases,
where the genera are large and
well defined, separate descriptions are given of each genus, but
where the genus is not easy to distinguish or represented by
only a few species, there is no separate generic description, and
the species are placed next to those of other genera to which
they are most closely related.
If the names of spiders are
known, they can readily be found by the index at the end of
the book.
If
information
is
sought about an unknown spider,
the illustrations through the book furnish the most convenient
index, as the general form and proportions of spiders and the
arrangement of their eyes usually show to what family they
The ground
belong.
described
spiders and those without
cobwebs are
and the sedentary species living in webs in the
Readers unfamiliar with the subject are
the book.
first,
last half of
advised to read
first
the descriptions of the families and com-
pare with them the spiders that they find in their
borhoods.
of
The
distinctness,
looked
for.
figures are in
and
spiders
most cases enlarged
of
much
own
neigh-
for the sake
smaller size must
be
THE COMMON SPIDERS
THE DRASSID/E
^
The
Drassidae, like the Lycosidae
though
(p.
15),
make
some genera,
are equally
like
(p. 6"]),
Anyphaena
common
in
(p.
are ground spiders,
12)
summer on
and Clubiona
They
bushes.
nests in the form of a bag or flattened tube, but no
cobwe55Tor catching
and are commonly found running
about among dead leaves and short grass and sometimes even
on bare ground and sand.
In form they are usually two or
insects,
three times as long as they are wide, like the Lycosidas
The
but more often flattened on the back.
little in
length, and the
first
and second pairs are directed
ward, the third and fourth backward.
are short, giving
feet
them
(p.
6^),
legs differ but
for-
Their hairs and spines
a smooth, velvet-like appearance.
The
have two claws, with a bfush of flattened hairs under
them,
like the
Lycosidae
(p.
Thomisidas and Attidas
6j),
large and strong and are together as
eyes are
all
of about the
(p.
41), but unlike the
The mandibles are
wide as the head.
The
which have three claws.
about the same size and arranged in two rows
same length and not
far apart, but
between
dif-
ferent species there are slight differences in their arrangement.
The
colors are usually dull gray, brown, and black, with
markings or none.
as in Micaria
(p.
9)
A
few
few species are very brightly marked,
and Poecilochroa
(p. 4).
There are three groups among the Drassidae
Gnaphosa, Poecilochroa, Pythonissa, and
I. Prosthesima,
Drassus, which are generally dark in color and flattened above.
:
THE COMMON
SPIDP:RS
with the cephalothorax narrow in front and the eyes covering
about half the width of the head and differing in their relative
positions
among
The labium
the different genera.
is
long and
the maxillae slightly widened at the end, or with the outer
(9
corners rounded off and sometimes a
OO O
qOOO
crease or depression
The
joints of the first legs are
thickened
times
the middle.
in
in
the
some-
middle.
ower spinnerets are longer than
others and flat on the end.
'^
Geotrecha,
Micaria,
2.
Agroeca, and Anyphaena,
body
the
is
The
the
Phrurolithus,
in
which the
less flattened, the legs longer,
and
movements quicker. The colors are
and more varied. The labium is
lighter
short and the maxill?e with straight sides.
»^.
Clubiona, Chiracanthium, and
Trachelas, in which the colors are plain
and
light,
the eyes spread over
more than
half the front of the head and close
to its front edge.
long as
it
is
in
The labium
tracted at the base.
The
—
flnaphosa conspersa.
female enlarged four times.
3, 4, 5.
4,
the eyes seen from in front.
5, the maxillae, labium, and ends
of the mandibles from below.
3,
and wide
y
as
maxillae
are narrow in the middle and
Figs.
is
Drassus, but con-
flat
at the ends.
Gnaphosa conspersa.
— Half an inch
long and rusty black in color.
In
alcohol the legs and cephalothorax
The whole
and
cephalothorax
The
body is
The
abdomen are about the same size and a little flattened.
The upper row
legs are stout and all nearly the same length.
of eyes is nearly straight and the lateral eyes much farther
are dark reddish
brown and the abdomen gray.
covered with fine black hairs.
THE DRASSID^E
from the middle pair than these are from each other
(fig. 3).
The middle eyes are oval and oblique, diverging toward the
front.
The maxillae are large, and rounded on the outer
The mandibles are large and strong, with a wide,
corners.
flat, serrated tooth (fig. 5) under the claw.
The cocoon is
white and
spider.
with a diameter as great as the length of the
flat,
The
female, as far as
have observed,
I
makes no
nest, but partly lines with silk a shal-
low hole,
in
It
lives
\\
which she nurses her cocoon. ^^
under stones and leaves as far
Rocky Mountains
lives
species,
A
Oregon.
GiiapJwsa
^\i -"^
Columbia, and on
in British
the Pacific coast in
^
^X,
north as the White Mountains and west to the
similar
qq q^
O^Oq
%^^
smaller and
bnnnalis,
on the top of Mount Washing-
^^^,
ton and as far north as Labrador.
Tythonissa imbecilla.
inch
quarter of an
brown
orange
bright
long,
cephalothorax
— About
on
the
and legs and blue black on
the abdomen, with a few white hairs around
The
the muscular spots.
with fine long hairs a
legs
little
are covered
darker in color
The cephalothorax
than the skin.
behind and more narrowed
in
is
wide
front than in
Figs.
6, 7, 8.
and the
The
eyes
(fig.
lateral eyes of
6) are close together,
both rows are larger
than the middle pairs and a
on the head.
The
little
farther back
—
7,
female enlarged four
times.
Gnaphosa.
Pytho-
iiissa imbecilla.
6,
the eyes
seen from in front.
8,
the
maxillae,
la-
bium, and ends of
mandibles from below.
maxillas
(fig.
8) are
short
and wide, and bent toward each other so that they nearly meet
The front edges are nearly straight and
in front of the labium.
The sternum is wide
the outer corners only slightly rounded.
and almost
circular.
from the base
The
to the tip.
tarsus of the female palpi tapers
—
THE COMMON SPIDERS
Poecilochroa
variegata.
This
•
one of
is
I
the
The cephalothorax
colored of the family
a
o o
little
is
most
brightly
bright orange,
darker toward the eyes.
abdomen
is
The
black, with three trans-
verse white stripes and a T-shaped
white mark between the
second
the
On
stripes.
abdomen
first
and
the front of
the white stripes are
sometimes tinged with orange. The
femora of the first and second legs
are black.
The distal end of the
femur and both ends of the tibia of the fourth
legs are black.
Other parts of the legs are
lo
orange-colored.
The cephalothorax
in Prosthcsiina
9, 10,
INe-
1 1.
cilochroa variegata.
—
female
II,
larged
9,
four
maxillae
en-
(fig.
eyes from in front.
labium,
atra and
lo) are long
outer corners.
times.
and widened
The two rows
of eyes
at the
(fig.
9)
are almost straight, the upper one longer than
10, maxill?E,
and ends
bles
quarter of an
is
is narrower than
Gnaphosa couspersa,
and the sternum longer and narrower. The
inch long.
Figs.
The female
of mandifrom below.
the lower.
Poecilochroa bilineata.
—A
little
smaller than
P. variegata, but with the abdomen longer.
Cephalothorax and abdomen both white
at
the sides and in the middle, with two black
stripes
nerets.
from the eyes nearly to the spin-
The abdomen
covered with long
is
hairs, black in the stripes
the light portions.
in
Fig.
12.
Fig.
with white hairs.
Poecilochroa bilineata.
Upper and under views
of
female without
legs,
times.
tiie
enlarged four
and silvery white
The
legs are gray,
The under
side
is
light
g^^y, with tWO black StripeS at the sidcS of
the abdomcu that do not quite reach the
.
spmnerets.
The
spinnerets are unusually
—
I
THE
The
long.
eyes
DRASSID.-E
arranged as
are
5
varicgata,
in
the middle
eyes being even more distinctly farther apart than they are
from the
less
OOOq
lateral eyes.
'^ Prosthesima
atra.
— Black,
than a third of an inch long.
may be mistaken
for a small
Gnaphosa conspersa,
but, besides
the small
abdomen
It
oooo
and
the
size,
is
usually longer in proportion and
the
head
narrower
is
The
Gnaphosa.
color
than
is
in
usually
black and less likely to be gray in
the young and rusty in the old, but the feet and
abdomen are sometimes yellowThe eyes (fig. 14) are closer
together and the two rows more nearly of the
In alcohol the cephalothorax
same length.
and legs are blacker than in Gnaphosa and less
brown.
The maxilla; (fig.
are a little longer
J
b^'
^ 15)
under side
of the
ish in the young.
\
and
less
/-.
rounded
T->
1
at
1
the outer corners than in
•
Gnaphosa or rythonissa.
T-1
1 he
T1
1
mandibles
14, 15- '6.
I'-s-
Prosthesima atra.
16,
female
'^^''g'^d
14,
en-
four times.
eyes seen from
in front.
i5,max-
Wix, labium, and
r-
(fig.
i
5)
are without the large teeth under the claw that
ends of mandibles
^™'"
^^^'^o\s.
Gnaphosa and Pythonissa have, and they
more than in those
genera.
It lives on the ground and under
are turned forward
stones.
The cocoon
is
white or pink,
attached by the under surface, with the
upper
side
convex
and
thickened
the middle, sometimes with a
attached to
Prosthesima
it.
ecclesiastica.
in
dirt
little
— Black,
with
white markino-s
° along
^ the middle of the
_
back.
One-third of an inch long, a
little
Fig.
17.
Fig. 18.
Prosthesima ecclesiastica.—
Upper and under views of
female enlarged four times.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
The
larger than P. atra and smaller than Gjiaphosa coiispersa.
cephalothorax
is
proportionally longer and narrower and the
sternum narrower and
The cephalothorax
round than
less
The
the middle.
in
stripe
P. atra
in
(fig.
i8).
the sides, with a whitish
dull black at
is
legs
are also
dull black and, like the cephalothorax, turn
brown
The abdomen
in alcohol.
is
black,
with a bright white stripe in the middle
that extends from the front end about twothirds
its
length
;
and
(fig.
is
is
The under
17).
hinder end, just
at the
over the spinnerets,
another white mark
side of the
abdomen
dark at the sides and light in the middle.
The
eyes and maxillae are as
in
P. atra, the
rounded
at
the ends.
maxillae a little less
Drassus saccatus.
and
long,
head
is
pale,
—
Four-fifths of an inch
without markings.
The
shorter and wider than in GnapJiosa
conspersa
and ProstJicsima
atra,
and the
Both
eyes cover a larger part of the head.
rows
the
of eyes (figs. 2, 19)
The middle upper
middle highest.
pair are oval
front.
The
and turned apart toward the
eyes
lateral
diameter from the middle
Fig.
19.
Drassus saccatus.
— Female enlarged three
times.
For
eyes
and
mouth parts see figs,
and 2 in Introduction.
i
illae (fig.
sides.
i)
are curved, with
are
twice
pair.
are widened at the ends on both
The labium
is
as wide as
it is
the
tip.
The color is
The front
marked
at
light gray, with short
of the head, the feet,
and the mandibles and maxillae are darker and browner.
is
long,
narrowed toward the end but truncated
fine hairs all over the body.
abdomen
their
The max-
The
only with the usual four muscular spots
and sometimes a few transverse dark markings toward the
THE DRASSID/E
The
hinder end.
The male
legs are long and tapering in both sexes.
more slender than the female, and
smaller and
is
end very
the male palpi are long, with the
They
silk
enlarged.
under stones, and make a large transparent bag of
which the female makes her cocoon of ^
live
in
eggs, and
Early
out.
with
stays
it
come
the young
until
summer
the
in
female often
male and
a
together in the nest, even
live
before the female
-
little
Geotrecha crocata.
is
mature.
— Black, with
the
ends of the legs light yellow and a
bright red spot on
abdomen.
the end of the
It is
about a third of an
inch long.
The
legs are slender
the body
not at
is
cephalothorax
is
all
flattened.
and
The
two-thirds as wide as long,
oval behind and narrowed in front of the
legs,
where the sides
nearly
parallel.
nearly twice as
of
the
The abdomen is
The
long as wide.
are so far under the body that they
little
from above.
abdomen
is
a spot
At the
,
head are /^
front
oval
and
spinnerets
show but
end of the
larger below than
above,
where the skin is thicker and harder and
browner in color than the rest. The cephalothorax is dark brown or black, as are also
the femora of all the legs and of the palpi.
The ends
of
figs. 20 21 22. Geo
trecha crocata.
22,
female enlarged
four times.
20, eyes
seen from in front.
21, maxillae, labium,
and ends of mandibles from below.
the third and fourth legs are a
brown and the ends of the first and second legs and
The abdomen is deep black except a bright
light yellow.
lighter
palpi
red spot at the hinder end, which varies in
broken into several spots, or
The
eyes
(fig.
is
size, is
sometimes
sometimes wanting altogether.
20) are near together, the upper
row curved
THE COMMON SPIDERS
down
The
the ends.
at
maxillae are straight, with the sides
and the labium
nearly parallel,
The
shorter than wide.
is
males are usually smaller than the females and have the red
These spiders live among stones in dry open
spot larger.
flat,
by
are easily alarmed and
They
places.
rapidly.
parchment-like cocoons found on stones are
this species.
— The
same size as G. crocata but much
and with two white stripes across the abdomen
Geotrecha bivittata.
lighter colored,
(fig.
The
probably made
move very
The cephalothorax
23).
it
is
a little
is
in
narrower behind than
The femora
orange to dark brown.
all
little
side of the patella
legs are yellow,
—
Upper
Geotrecha bivittata.
and under views of female
The hind
yellow.
brown, with a
Fig. 24.
of
the legs are striped lengthwise with
brown and
Fig.
from
Its color varies
crocata.
stripes on the
legs are
yellow on the upper
and
The
tibia.
other
sometimes with brown
under
The white
side.
marks on the abdomen extend underneath halfway to the middle
The
line.
enlarged four times.
sternum and under side are
It lives
»^
under leaves
— A quarter of an
and resembling an ant both
in the middle.
is
in
size
inch long or
and color
(fig.
twice as long as wide, and only a
It is
brown.
at all seasons.
Micaria longipes or aurata.
cephalothorax
light
28).
little
highest in the middle, curving
less,
The
widened
downward
both ends. The front row of eyes (fig. 25) is nearly straight
and the upper row curved, with the middle eyes highest and
at
the eyes
men
is
all
farther apart than in the lower row.
The
abdo-
one-half longer than the cephalothorax and about as
wide, blunt at both ends and
drawn
above
its
at
a point a third of
in a little at
the sides and
length from the front.
The
The
colors
legs are long and slender, the fourth pair longest.
THE DRASSID^
are light yellow brown, with gray hairs and scales which on
abdomen have green and red
the
The
metallic reflections.
legs are darker from before backward,
the front pair
light
all
with longitudinal
pairs
yellow except
and the third and fourth
the femur,
brown
stripes
that nearly cover the tarsal joints.
abdomen has
The
a pair of transverse white
near the constricted part and
stripes
another pair less distinct at the front
The under side is as dark as the
The white markings 'extend underneath
halfway to the middle line.
The maxillae are nearlv
end.
upper.
and a
straight on the outer edge
toward each other
at the ends.
narrowed
end and a
wide
the
at
is
is
than
longer
and farther south (probably what
described by
aiwatus),
that
the epigynum
and markings are the same, and
like that of longipes.
is
abdomen, and femora
lothorax,
orange
color,
with
The
reflections.
of
all
brilliant
spinnerets
The
on
the
cepha-
the legs are
yellow
are
black, and there are five or six transverse
black marks
is
Hentz under the name Herpyllus
seems to belong to this species
Its size
27).
green
little
an orange-colored Micaria from Long
Island, N.Y.,
bright
widened
26).
(fig.
There
(fig.
little
The labium
hinder half of the
and
Micaria
FiGs.25,26, 27, 28.
longipes.
— 28,
Male en-
larged four times.
25, eyes
seen from in front.
26,
and ends
of mandibles from below.
27, Southern variety, Mix
rLoloredj
cana aurata.
orange, with black and
maxilla;, labium,
abdomen and some
irregular black spots
around the white bands.
i
/
—A
Phrurolithus alarius,
,
small and very
white markings.
-xi
u'«-^
gray and white
marked with
and having on the abdomen iridescent green
.
,
active spider
1
1
1
scales
(fig.
31).
THE COMMON SPIDERS
lO
The cephalothorax
head
is
is
nearly as wide behind as
The
long.
is
it
The eyes
30)
about half as wide as the thorax.
small a spider, and cover more than half
(fig.
are large for so
The
the width of the head.
middle
eyes
upper
the
of
row are oval and turned
30
liquely, diverging
The labium
front.
and
Agroeca and Anyphsena,
in
The
and second
(fig.
32).
legs are long and slen-
der, except the tibia
and metatarsus of the
which are twice as
pairs,
same
thick as the
short
is
the maxillae straight, as
but wider at the base
first
ob-
toward the
joints of the other legs
and have on the under side two rows
strong spines
is
(fig.
The cephalothorax
29).
light yellowish, with a black line
edge each
side,
The abdomen
is
and two
on the
light gray stripes.
gray, with transverse white
markings that vary greatly
in
of
in size
and shape
The abdomen
different individuals.
is
covered with scales that change from grayish
green to pink with the motions of the spider.
The
legs are pale,
tibia of the
Figs. 29, 30, 31, 32.
rolithus
alarius.
Phru-
—
spines.
in
front.
30, eyes
show
from
32, maxiiire
labium, and
mandibles.
ends
except the patella and
which are black or
pair,
dark gray, with the
tip of the tibia white.
^i.
female in a natural position, with legs drawn up
over the back, enlarged
eight times.
29, one of
the front legs to
first
of
The
tibia
and patella of the second pair are
marked with
It
lighter gray in the
Hvcs amoHg stoncs
,
,.
in
.
same way.
opcn ground, and
,
j_
-ct.
ruus short distanccs With great swittness.
When
tibiae
Still it
Hcs closc to a stouc, with the
drawn up over the back.
THE
Agroeca
pratensis.
—A
DliASSIDyE
light-colored
little
the next species, AnypJicBua incerta.
The cephalothorax
long.
highest near the
is
II
It is
about a
The head
dorsal groove.
more than it is
The front row of eyes
in
incerta.
is
is
the higher
(fig.
an inch
and
in front
contracted in
°o00o''
^3
nearly straight, the middle pair only
little
is
resembling
fifth of
wide behind and low
front of the legs
a
spicier,
The upper row
33).
longer and more curved, with
the eyes
all
about the same distance apart, the middle
much separated as in incerta.
The abdomen is widest behind, but not as
The spinnerets are twowide as in incej'ta.
The legs are long,
jointed, as in Anyphaena.
pair not
so
the fourth pair longest, and are a
The
than those of incerta.
little
thicker
coxae of the hind
legs almost touch,
and the sternum
and nearly round
(fig.
is
36).
short and the maxillae straight, as in
phaena.
short
The labium
The cephalothorax,
legs,
parts are light brownish yellow.
is
Any-
and mouth
The
cephalo-
thorax has a fine dark line on each side and
two broken longitudinal stripes made up of
gray marks radiating from the dorsal groove.
The abdomen has two rows
markings on a
light
of gray oblique
ground.
The
general
Figs. 33, 34, 35, 36.
—
Agrceca pratensis.
eyes from in front.
maxilla",
among
little
is
leaves
like a small Lycosa.
and short
grass.
It
lives
There
is
34,
ends of mandibles. 35,
back of female enlarged four times.
appearance
33,
labium, and
36,
under side of female
as far back as the
epigynum.
difference between male and female.
Anyphaena
incerta.
— About a
with gray markings.
fifth of
an inch long, light yellow,
The cephalothorax
is
three-quarters as
wide as long, rounded at the sides and highest in the middle.
The
front of the head
is
very low, so that the eyes nearly.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
12
The
row of eyes is nearly straight.
longer and more curved, with the middle eyes
highest and farthest apart (fig. 39).
touch the mandibles.
The upper row
is
front
The abdomen
is
large
the female,
in
widest behind the middle, and a
The labium
behind.
pointed
little
is
not
longer than wide, and the maxillae are
straight, with
sternum
as
'^
^
is
num and
and wide
oval, not so short
The opening
in pratcnsis.
air-tubes
of
spinnerets
(fig.
instead of
38),
just in front of the spinnerets, as
The
the
halfway between the epigy-
is
The
most spiders.
The
the sides parallel.
it is
in
spinnerets are two-jointed.
legs are slender
and tapering, the fourth
longest in females and the
first in
males.
The
cephalothorax has two longitudinal broken
gray bands.
The abdomen has
of spots in the middle
to the middle.
Anyphaena
incerta.
palpus of
37,
—
male.
under side of female as far forward as
end of sternum. 39,
eyes from in front.
oblique lines
calcarata.
— The
same
size
color as A. iiicerta,
with longer legs.
markings
same
The
41
Figs. 37, 38, 39, 40, 41.
The
under the abdomen halfway
of spots extend
is
of
are
row
and oblique rows of
smaller spots each side.
Anyphaena
a double
the
in
both
and
The
species.
plainest difference between the females
in the
epigynum, the hard and dark parts
which are larger and longer
in
incerta.
38,
Another
40,
which in calcarata extends
between the hind legs (fig. 42). In
incerta it is more pointed at the hinder end
and shorter (fig. 38). The difference between
female
four times.
illae,
enlarged
41,
max-
labium, and ends
of mandibles.
slight
of the sternum,
farther
difference
is
in
the shape
THE DRASSID/E
13
the length of the legs in the
two species, which
in
the females,
slight
is
greater in
is
the males, the legs of calca-
The
rata being the longer.
palpi of the males differ con-
In
siderably.
hiccTta
(fig.
37) the tibia of the palpus
has a large process on the
outer side close to the tarsus and extending
along
its
length.
In
43) the corresponding process
(fig.
small and does not lap over the tarsus.
The
Figs. 42, 43.
calcarata.
calcarata
is
edge a third of
its
Anyphaena
— 42,
under
side of cephalothorax of
female.
43,
palpus
of
male.
coxae of the third and fourth legs of
the male calcarata have
little
processes on
42), one on the fourth
and two on the third. These do not occur
the under side
in
inccrta.
b Hilda
It
(fig.
14).
(p.
on plants
lives
Anyphaena rubra.
— Larger
than the other
species, with the legs shorter.
is
like salta-
The female
about a third of an inch long, with the
abdomen longer and narrower than in inccrta
or saltabiinda. The opening of the air-tubes
(fig.
is
45)
farther forward than usual, twice
as far from the spinnerets as from the epigy-
The
num.
legs
comparatively short,
are
the longest, the fourth, being about as long
as
the
body.
widened
The
at the end.
maxillae
are
The sternum
a
is
little
widest
Figs. 44, 45.
rubra.
second legs and narrows to a point
at the
behind.
usual,
The head
is
a little wider than
and the whole appearance more
out the legs, enlarged
four times.
45, under
side of
like
Anyphaena
— 44, female withabdomen, show-
ing position of air-tubes.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
14
The
Clubiona than the other species.
yellow, a
little
color
brownish on the head and
scattered spots at the sides.
/
made up
The spots
the usual pale
and with two
The abdomen
longitudinal stripes on the cephalothorax.
nearly white, with two stripes
is
legs,
of
gray spots, and
turn red in alcohol.
—A
Anyphasna saltabunda.
pale short spi-
with long and slender legs
der,
is
(fig.
46).
The body is an eighth to a sixth of an inch
long.
The abdomen is oval, two-thirds as
wide as long, and nearly as high as
is
wide.
The cephalothorax
is
it
three-
fourths as wide as long, widest across
the dorsal groove and narrowing gradually to half as wide in front.
The
eyes of the upper row are twice as
large as those of the front row.
first
legs are longest in
measuring
in the
The
both sexes,
female over twice
the length of the body and in the
males three times.
The
spines are
very long on the legs and palpi but
only a
Figs. 46, 47. Anyphaena saltabunda.
46, female en-
—
larged
47,
six
little
general color
darker in color.
is
The
pale yellow or white,
with two broken gray stripes on the cepha-
times.
lothorax and two middle and several lateral
palpus of male.
rows of light gray spots on the abdomen.
The
the
spinnerets are slender and two-jointed.
air-tubes
epigynum.
is
The
halfway between the
palpi
slender, and the tibia
of
is
process on the outer side.
the
male
spinnerets
(fig.
slightly curved
The opening
47) are
of
and
the
long
and
and has a large thin
THE DRASSID^
15
THE GENUS CLUBIONA
These spiders are
The
ings.
is
most
of
them without mark-
eyes are close to the front edge of the head and
cover more than half
row
pale and
all
width
its
(figs.
50, 54, 56).
The upper
longer and the eyes .larger and the middle pair farthest
The
apart.
distance between
this pair varies according to the
and
more
than
canadensis
that between the middle and
In
species.
crassipalpis
it is little
lateral
is
eyes, while in
rubra
mandibles of
the females
swelled at the
and
base
this swelling
canadensis
(fig.
in
it
The
nearly twice as great.
are
front,
greatest in
is
The man-
55).
dibles of the males are longer
and are shaped
in
ways according
to the species.
The shape
indistinct
of the
epigynum
and variable, and
males of different
difficult
a variety of
to
is
fe-
species are
The
distinguish.
females of ornata and exccpta
are
known by
their
markings
and those of rubra by their
size
and resemblance to the male.
The females
of crassipalpis
and
Fig. 48.
Female Clubiona
crassipalpis,
enlarged four times.
tibialis are doubtful.
The
palpal
organs and male palpi are of great variety and distinguish the
all species without much difficulty.
The Clubionas live in flat tubes of silk on leaves of low
plants in summer and under bark and stones at all seasons.
males of
THE COMMON SPIDERS
i6
Clubiona crassipalpis,
without markings.
—A
quarter of an inch long and pale,
The head
sometimes a
is
darker than
little
the rest of the body, and the man-
and ends of the male palpi
dibles
are always darker.
The eyes
of the
upper row are almost equidistant,
the middle pair only a
little
farther
apart than they are from the lateral
The mandibles
eyes.
(figs.
of
the male
49, 50) are elongated as usual,
narrowed toward the end, and thickened
in
front just above the middle.
On
the outer side
sharp ridge
in front is a
that
from
extends
the
base of the claw halfway
The
up the mandible.
inner edges of the manthin and inbackward toward
the mouth, but there is
dibles
are
clined
no
line or ridge
between
the thick and thin portions
Figs. 49, 50, 51, 52. Clubiona crassipalpis.
49,
head and mandibles of
—
male from the left side.
50, head and mandibles
of male from in front.
51,
palpus of male.
maxillae,
52,
labium, and
as
species.
male
in
some other
The
(fig.
palpi of the
51)
have
the
patella and tibia both
short.
The
tibia is wid-
ened on the outer side
ends of mandibles.
and laps over the
extending
Clubiona
in a
blunt hook for half
tibialis.
— Quarter
"^
its
tarsus,
length.
...
of an inch long,
the same size and color as crassipalpis, with
figs.
53, 54.
ciubiona
pav''so7n"ie'show^
'"g
head
large
tibia.
54,
and mandibles
of male.
THE DRASSID/E
17
no markings and no dark color except on the mandibles and
male palpi. The middle eyes are a little farther apart than
The male mandibles
in crassipalpis.
narrower than
54) are
(fig.
in
crassi-
palpis and without the sharp ridge on
the outer side, but on the inside they
are sharply hollowed out with a ridge
between the thick outer and thin inner
portions. The male palpi (fig. 53) have
the patella about as long as wide, as
tibia
very large, with a hook
is
usual place on the outer
much
the
The
tarsus
of the tibia.
Clubiona canadensis.
without
markings.
equidistant,
leers
CI
dibles
side
in the
and a
larger process, which extends forward over
tarsus.
in the middle where
the
it
and canadensis, but the
crassipalpis
is in
as
it
is
— Quarter
(fig.
and
thickened
of an inch long
The upper eyes
are
and
nearly
they are in crassipalpis, but
and palpi are shorter.
i-
long
rests against the process
The male man-
i-
FiGs.55,56,
57.
Qfia canadensis.
56) are
much
^
like those of crassi-
palpis, but have not so sharp a ridge on the
The male palpi (fig. 57) have the
outer side.
patella longer than
wide and the
tibia
wider
ciubi
— 55
show
mandibles.
56, head and
mandibles of male.
head
of female,
ing the swelled
57,
palpus of male.
The upper
than long, with two processes on the outer side.
along
the
outer side
extending
tibial process is a simple point
of the tarsus for quarter of its length.
The under
twice as long, with a projecting corner at
its
process
is
base and running
forward to a sharp point, with a round notch halfway between
The female has the head wider and the
the point and base.
mandibles very
The
fourth leg
much
is
swelled in front at the base
(fig.
longest and about as long as the body.
55).
—
THE COMMON SPIDERS
i8
Clubiona rubra.
— Smaller than the other
an inch long.
fifth of
species, a sixth to a
light yellow
Cephalothorax
brown, darker
Abdomen
toward the front.
pale in
front and darkened with brownish red
at the sides
and behind and along the
The hind middle
middle of the back.
eyes are nearly twice as far apart as
they are from the lateral eyes.
fourth
sexes,
are
legs
longest
in
The
both
and there
59
Figs. 58, 59.
Clubiona rubra.
head and mandibles
59. palpus of male.
58, front of
of male.
islittledifference
the length of
in
the legs of the
two sexes.
are but
The mandibles
little
of the female
swelled in front, not
much
and the male
more than those
of the male,
mandibles
58) are only a little nar-
rowed
(fig.
at the ends.
have the
tibia
very
The male palpi (fig.
much widened on
59)
the
outer side, with a short tooth in the middle
and two larger short processes on the outer
The
side.
palpal organ has a large dark-
colored process in the middle.
num
is
The
epigy-
pointed behind, with a notch in the
middle and two black spots under the skin
62
Figs. 60, 61, 62.
ornata.
toward the front of the abdomen.
Clubiona omata.
— This
is
one of the few
Clubionas that have markings on the abdo-
The general color is pale as
but the abdomen has a dark stripe
men.
usual,
— 60,
Clubiona
back of fe-
male enlarged four times
show markings.
61,
palpus of male. 62, front
of head and mandibles of
to
male.
in the middle,
broken into
spots behind and bordered by pale yellow.
At
oblique dark and light transverse markings.
These marks are
the sides are
THE DRASSID^
different
of
sizes
The abdomen
than
in
most
different
in
The
different ways.
length
is
19
individuals and connected in
from a third to half an inch.
wide across the middle and more pointed behind
is
The
species.
front middle eyes are about as far
apart as in tibialis and nearer than in rubra.
are not
much
The
swelled in front.
than those of the female, with the
longest,
pair
fourth pair
dibles
(fig.
while
is
the
in
legs of the
first
female the
The male man-
longest.
The mandibles
male are longer
'^oOOo'
\^
62) are narrow at the end and
hollowed on the inner edges as
in tibialis,
between the thick
and the thin portions. The male palpi
(fig. 61) have two processes on the outer
with a sharp ridge
side of
the tibia longer than
and shorter than
is
a
little
in caiiadciisis.
rubra
in
The
tibia
widened toward the end and
Clubiona excepta.
—A
third of an
inch
ings on the abdomen.
light yellow
The
palpus
back
of female enlarged
four times to show
markings.
65,
cephalotho-
brown, and the legs are more deeply
colored with yellow than in most species.
is
of
64,
of male.
long and with very distinct gray mark-
is
—
head
and mandibles of
6j, front
male.
curved outward.
rax
Figs. 63, 64, 65. Clubiona excepta.
white, with sometimes a yellow
The abdomen
mark on the
the abdomen, and on the hinder half of the
front of
abdomen
^5
is
a
middle row of gray spots and a row of larger transverse spots
on each
side.
The
fourth legs are longest in both sexes.
male palpi have the
tibia
tibia
longer than usual and patella and
The
about the same length.
with two teeth
(fig.
64).
The
The
tibia
tarsus
is
has a small process
oval and narrow and
the palpal organ small.
Trachelas ruber.
— One-third
of
an inch long, with the cephalo-
thorax short and wide like Clubiona, and the deep orange-brown
THE COMMON SPIDERS
20
The cephalothorax
color of Dysdera.
is
almost as wide as long,
The head
and widest opposite the second legs.
quarters as wide as the thorax and as
is
three-
high in the middle halfway between
the eyes and the dorsal
The
groove.
the head
front
of
low,
as
in
The
front
is
Clubiona.
row
of eyes
little
is
a
curved, so
that the middle
pair are half
their
diameter
higher than the
The
upper row is
much longer
lateral.
and the
lateral
eyes are farther
from the midTra-
Fig. 66.
dle than these
chelas ruber,
enlarged four
are from each
times.
The
other.
labium and maxillse are
_,
,
.
,
,
,
like those of
.
,
Clubiona and the palpi very slender.
The
first
pair of legs are thicker than
de.
—
67,
The second
thickened.
pair are also
The
brown, darkest
thorax
is
legs
somewhat
are
on the front
orange
pair.
viri-
female
o
Q
000c
enlarged four
times.
the others and as long as the fourth.
68,
from
in
eyes
front.
69, maxillae, labi-
um, and mandibles from below.
The
cephalo-
dark brown and finely roughened over the
whole surface, without hairs except
pale,
FiGs.67,68,69. chi-
racanthium
-
in front.
The abdomen
is
with no markings except over the dorsal vessel and the
THE BRASS D^
21
I
Some light-colored individuals have
Under stones and leaves.
muscular spots.
colors paler.
Chiracanthium
viride.
— This
all
the
has the color and general appear-
ance of the Clubionas, but the legs are longer and the
The body
are considerably longer than the fourth.
first
is
legs
shorter
and the abdomen
is
female
a third of an inch long and the front legs
(fig.
^y)
is
wider and thicker
two-fifths of an inch.
The
Clubiona.
but the sternum
maxillae
is
The eyes
(fig.
and labium are
shorter and rounder.
narrowed and the eyes cover almost
in
the middle.
The
68) are arranged as in
like those of Clubiona,
The head
its
is
but
whole width.
little
The
upper spinnerets are longer than the lower and distinctly two-
The
jointed.
The
color in
spines of the legs are small and inconspicuous.
life is
greenish white, the mandibles brown, and
the stripe over the dorsal vessel darker than the rest of the
abdomen.
The male
has the front legs nearly three times as long as the
much longer than in the
The mandibles are also elongated, as in the males of
Clubiona.
The male palpi have the tarsus long, with a pointed
body, though the other legs are not
female.
process
that
extends backward over the tibia between two
processes on that joint.
THE DYSDERID.E
''
The
Dysderidse are a small family of spiders resembling
their general appearance the Drassidas, but differing
in several
from them
They have
important characters.
six eyes instead of the usual eight,
in
only
and they have
four breathing holes in the front of the abdomen,
two
of
them leading
to the usual lungs
and the
others to the air-tubes, which in most
spiders open just in front of the spinnerets.
Dysdera
interrita.
— Six
eyes
close
together on the front of the
Length half an
abdomen a
head.
with
the
inch,
little
longer than the cephalothorax.
The
coxae and patellae are un-
usually long, especially on the
front
legs,
and the
unusually short
Figs.
70, 71, 72.
interrita.
(fig.
tarsi
are
The
70).
mandibles are long and inclined
nv'sdera
— 70, enlarged
forward.
71, head
and eyes from in front.
72, under side enlarged
The
maxillae are long,
four times.
si.x
a little
widened
and pointed
times.
labium
is
in the
middle
The
at the ends.
long and narrow, and
forked at the end
(fig.
72).
The
skin around the base of the legs
is
thick and hard, so that the sternum appears to extend between
them
(fig.
72).
There are two tracheal openings
22
just
behind
THE DYSDERID^
23
The cephalothorax and legs are
The abdomen is the
the openings of the lungs.
orange brown, darker toward the front.
same
color,
Ariadne
but so pale as to be almost white.
bicolor.
— Six
eyes
three
in
pairs,
the
is
side
pairs
The length
separated by their diameter from the middle pair.
about a third of an inch, the
cephalothorax and abdomen about
The
the same length.
thorax
cephalo-
long and the head wide.
is
The maxillae are long and narrow.
The sternum is widest opposite the
third legs
(fig.
74),
and ends behind
The
in a blunt point.
second,
first,
and third legs are directed forward,
the
first
longest and
pair
The
stoutest.
and second legs are a little
thickened in the middle and have four pairs
of spines on the under side, and the metatibiae of
the
first
tarsus of the
same
hinder pairs of
legs
eight
The cephalothorax and
The abdomen
purplish brown, darker in
front.
is
the middle and
In the male the head
more narrowed and the
The
The
legs are yellow brown,
darker toward the front.
toward the
pairs.
spinnerets are very small.
front
legs
is
longer.
front metatarsi are curved at the base
I'iGS. 73, 74.
color.
—
73,
enlarged
74,
under
Ariadne biupper side
four
times.
side.
and have a tooth each side, the inner one
farthest from the tibia.
joint, as
it is
in the
The
Mygales.
palpal organ
is
outside the tarsal
•
THE THOMISID^
The
and have
a sidewise gait
second legs are often
and
flat, short, and widened behind,
and crab-like appearance. The first and
Thomisidae are generally
all
much
larger than the third and fourth,
the legs extend sidewise from the thorax and not for-
ward and backward, as they do in the Drassidas (pp. 1-2 i). The
They are genfeet have two claws and a thick brush of hairs.
erally smooth or covered with very short and fine hair, and often
have coarser hairs scattered at considerable distances from each
The eyes are small and in two slightly
other over the back.
curved rows, the upper one longest and often much longer than
The mandibles
the front row.
the end.
Most
The
of the species
Xysticus
and brown,
(p.
30)
like
Misumena
is
belong to the three following genera
is flat,
:
with short legs, and marked with gray
bark and stones.
25)
(p.
is
much
second legs are
there
are small and narrowed toward
maxillae are narrow at the end and slant inward.
white or brightly colored.
The
first
and
longer than the third and fourth, and
great difference between the sexes, the females being
large and light colored, while the males are small, and yellow
or green, with red and
Philodromus
legs, the
(p.
35)
brown markings.
is
generally small, with long slender
The
second pair longest.
colors are generally light
gray and brown, sometimes with iridescent scales.
Besides the larger genera are several other spiders belonging
to this family.
Tinar2is caiidatits (p. 38) resembles Philodro-
mus
outline, but has besides the caudate
in color
and
a very different head and thorax, and the hind legs
24
abdomen
much shorter
'
THE THOMISID.'E
than the
first
and second.
Ebo
25
latitJiorax (p. 38) is a small Philo-
dromus, with a wide body and exaggerated second legs. T/iajiatus lycosoidcs (p. 40) is like a stout Philodromus, with rough hairs
TihcUns duttonii
and markings, resembling some Lycosidas.
(p. 39) is a long straw-colored spider, resembling Philodromus
in its feet
two black
and head, but having a long slender abdomen, with
spots.
THE GENUS MISUMENA
The Misumenas are the most conspicuous spiders
family, and are among the few that are popularly
They grow to a large size and are white or brightly
and
noticed.
colored,
open places
in
live
of their
on flowers.
The males
and females
differ widely.
The males mature
early
and remain small, and are
marked with
a variety of
colors in spots and bands,
the
W|hile
females grow
several
times
lose
great part their
in
as
large,
markings, and become
In both
white or yellow.
sexes the two front pairs
^:-
of legs are
much
than the two hinder pairs,
and often differently
col-
Fig. 7v
among
in
ored.
In the young the
colors
are variable and there
sexes.
The Misumenas
especially
on
1'^
longer
large
flat
Misumena
Ji^^
aleatoiia.
—
Natural
size,
flowers of thoroughwort, holding a
fly
her mouth.
is
less difference
between the
on plants, among the flowers,
clusters, like those of carrot and
live
THE COMMON SPIDERS
26
They stand among the
thoroughwort.
hind legs, with the front legs extended or bent in
awkward
positions,
and wait for insects
Whether
within their reach.
like
themselves
menas
is
of all colors
by the
flowers, holding
to alight
spiders prefer flowers
an unsettled question
any
at
;
and
stiff
on the flowers
colored
Misu-
rate,
and both sexes have been found on white
Occasionally individuals are
flowers.
found on flowers of exactly the same
color
as
themselves
for
;
example, deep yellow J/.
aleatoria on the wild indigo,
Baptisia tinctoria, and the
reddish J/, aspcrata on the
flowers
of
sorrel,
The
acctosella.
Rumcx
adult fe-
males of vatia and aleatoria
are
easily
each other.
mistaken
for
Both vary
in
color from white to deep
yellow, and
size,
tinguished
larged
78,
four times,
_
head.
as
is
perhaps
common
species.
Aspcrata
large as the others, and does
not lose entirely the red markings of the
stiff
differ-
q^^q J^ the shapC of the
the most
The female seldom grows
to a large
by the
male enlarged four
times.
The scattered
The males of
grow
but they can be dis-
hairs also distinguish
abdomen and
it
legs.
from the others.
the different species are distinct enough one
from the other, though they
differ
widely from the females.
shape of the head and the markings around the eyes are
The
much
the same in both sexes, and by these males and females of the
same species may be recognized.
f
THE THOMISID^
Misumena
vatia
the largest species and lives
is
first
all
over this
sometimes half an inch long, and
legs spread an inch and a half (fig. "jy).
It is white, with
country and Europe.
the
27
It is
sometimes a crimson spot on each side
of the
abdomen and
another on the front of the head between the upper eyes.
The
sides of the thorax are a little darkened with yellow or brown,
which extends around the head
to a
opaque white spot under
distinct
and between
the
eyes
(fig.
'j6).
This white spot widens below over
the mandibles and above under the
eyes and around the eyes of
the
The shape
of this
mark
and the greater height
of the
head
upper row.
distinguish this species from alca-
On
toria (figs. 79, 80).
the thorax
also a distinct
is
The
first
usually
a
white spot.
legs
have
mark on the upper
is
the back of
opaque
and second
light
side,
brown
but this
sometimes absent.
The male
(fig.
78)
is
only a quar-
ter or a third as long as the adult
82.
Misumena
aleatoria.
79, front of
The
female.
Figs. 79, 80. Si,
front
legs
are
pro-
portionally longer than in the fe-
eyes.
larged
—
head anc
80, female en-
four times.
female with dark
markings.
82, male
enlarged four times.
81,
male, and the
abdomen
smaller and
more pointed behind. The males
marked with reddish brown on a
are strongly
The thorax
is
light ground.
dark at the sides, while the front of the head
white like that of the female.
Misumena
as
is
large
mon.
It
aleatoria.
as
is
vatia,
— The female
and
in
of this species
some places
is
grows nearly
much more com-
white or yellow, but does not have the crimson
THE COMMON SPIDERS
28
markings
at the
The head
(fig.
front,
79)
and there
abdomen
sides of the
is
is
a
rounder than
in
between the eyes.
vatia and much lower in
or
narrow white stripe under the eyes that
man-
divides at the sides, one branch passing around over the
The
dibles and the other close under the eyes.
sides of the
The
cephalothorax are gray or green.
men
gray color
in
(fig.
it
81),
such individuals the legs are also
marked with brown
The males
ored
little
the middle, but sometimes
in
has two rows of dark brown spots
and
abdo-
usually has no markings except a
(fig.
at the ends of the joints.
are very small and strikingly col-
82).
The two
front pairs of legs
are brown, the cephalothorax green, and the
abdomen
yellow.
The shape
of
the head
and the white under the eyes are the same
as in the female.
Misumena
asperata.
— The
males
and
fe-
males of this spider are more alike than
vatia and alcatoria.
The
in
adult females are
always pale and sometimes white, but seldom
lose entirely the reddish
Figs. 83, 84.
asperata.
—
Misumena
83,
enlarged four times.
84, male enlarged four
Both sexes are covered with short
legs.
female
stiff
hairs about their length apart
all
the Upper part of the body and legs.
usual color
The thorax
markings.
bands around the
is
is
pale yellow,
reddish at the sides.
over
The
with dull red
The abdomen
has two red bands or rows of spots on the hinder half, meeting
behind.
In front are a middle pair of spots and two side bands
that spread apart in the middle and meet again at the spinnerets.
The
tibia
and tarsus of the front legs are marked with
a narrow red ring at the base and a wider ring near the end of
each
joint.
The female
is
a quarter of an inch long and the
THE THOMISID/E
male about half that length.
like
29
The markings
male are
of the
those of the female, but the spots are larger and more
The male
deeply colored.
palpi are larger than in the other
species.
The male J/, spinosa of Georgia resembles aspcrata, but the
legs are much longer and the ends of the palpi smaller.
Synema parvula.
A common species in the South. Length
about one-eighth of an inch.
The thorax is as wide as long,
round and high in the middle,
The abdomen is as
—
wide as long, widest across the
The
pointed behind.
fourth
legs are not
middle,
and a
little
and
third
more than
two-thirds as long as the
first
and second, and lighter colored.
The thorax
little
is
orange-colored, a
the sides, and
darker at
with a dark brown line on the
edges over the
around
rings
light
The abdomen
yellow
in
legs.
the
eyes.
white or light
is
front,
There are
Synema
Figs. 85, 86.
parvula.
and has a wide
— Enlarged
eight times.
black or brown band across the
per side.
86,
85, up-
under
side.
hinder
half,
not reaching back
to the spinnerets,
front.
On
and sometimes partly divided by a notch
the front half of the
abdomen
are
spots and usually several opaque white marks.
side of the
abdomen there
is
On
legs are orange brown, with the
The males
little
The
are a
from the females.
The
front
femora darker on the front and
other joints are a
little
the under
a dark band on each side extend-
ing back to and partly surrounding the spinnerets.
rear edges.
in
some small dark
little
darker at the ends.
smaller and darker in color, but differ
THE COMMON SPIDERS
30
THE GENUS XYSTICUS
In these spiders the general appearance
abdomen
and wide.
is
not
much
The
first
The
crab-like.
is
larger than the thorax, and both are
flat
and second legs are a third longer than
the third and fourth.
various shades of
i;pots
and bands.
leg
The
colors are usually
brown and gray,
On
small
in
the upper side of each
usually a light line, with dark
is
lines
on each side of
often
sidewise, the
The
it.
legs
gait
is
kept close
to the ground, so that the spider can
move
in a
narrow crack.
They
live
under stones and bark and leaves,
and some, like trignttatus, on low
The males have longer legs
and smaller abdomen and all the dark
plants.
markings larger and darker than the
females.
In triguttatiis there
is
great
difference between the sexes, but in
most species very
tiis
as in liniba-
little,
and stomacJiosus.
The head
is
generally low, and the four middle
eyes form a rectangle a
than high
Figs. 87, 88.
sus.
—
87,
Xysticus stomachofemale.
Both enlarged four
88,
male.
Xysticus
(fig.
97).
stomachosus.
little
—A
wider
middle-
sized and light-colored species, with
times.
gray markings
on
a
light
ground,
the markings most distinct on the hinder legs and abdomen.
The middle of the thorax is lighter than the sides, and there
is
a small dark spot in the middle and a larger one on each
toward the hinder end (figs. 87, 88). The third and fourth
legs have a distinct dark spot at the ends of femur, patella, and
side
THE THOMISID^
The abdomen
tibia.
is
light,
31
with a few small spots at the
front end and three pairs of dark transverse bands on the hinder
The
half.
and
and
hairs are short
marked
is
in
abdomen
the spots on the
The male
fine.
has longer legs
the same way, with
larger and
extended farther forward,
Xysticus limbatus.
— This,
is
one of
the largest species, the females reaching a length of a third to half an inch
(figs.
89,
90).
The thorax
is
it
one-
"^
eighth of an inch wide and nearly as
The abdomen is a little wider
The legs are short,
long.
at the
the
hinder end.
longest
half
The whole body
length.
The
about
color
is
an
inch
is
hairy.
in
brown, the markings
dark on a light ground, best shown
by the figures. The middle of the
head and thorax is more fully
covered by the dark markings than
variation in
There is great
the color, and young
spiders
are
usually
adults.
Adult males and females
in
Vn;
other species.
and July.
Xysticus gulosus.
lighter
— This
is
^'
than
in
June
a very distinct
species and less variable in markings than
lunbatus and stomacJiosns.
The
color
is
i'lGS. 89, 90.
89,
female.
male.
brown or gray, with
indistinct darker mark-
Xys-
ticus limbatus.
—
90,
Both en-
larged four times.
The whole body is
covered with fine brown spots and has at the hinder end of the
thorax and on the legs traces of the same markings that show
There are a few transverse
more distinctly in stomachosus.
ings
(figs.
91, 92).
THE COMMON SPIDERS
32
dark lines on the hinder half of the abdomen and less distinct
longitudinal lines at the sides of the front half.
The male is a fourth smaller than the female, with
smaller abdomen and more slender legs, but the
a
same colors and markings.
It is
usually found under
bark or stones which
it
closely resem-
bles in color.
Xysticus
nervosus.
— This
species, the females of
large as
as
liuibatus.
is
a
pale
which are nearly
The
color
is
light brownish
with
yellow,
small
spots
of
lighter and
darker color
scattered
all
over the body, and there
are traces of the mark-
ings
which
distinct
species
On
the
more
are
other
in
(figs.
93, 94).
the hinder half of
abdomen
are
three or four pairs of
Figs. 91, 92.
gulosus.
Xysticus
— 91, female.
92, male.
Both en-
larged
four times.
*
very indistinct trans-
The
versc markings.
i
legs are
i
•,
i
marked with
i
irregular dark and light spots, without
any
first
distinct rings or markings,
and the
and second pairs are darker than
the others.
In the male the
first
and
Figs. 93, 94. Xj'sticus nervosus.
Both
94. male.
93, female.
enlarged four times.
second legs are twice as long as the
third and longer and more slender than
It
lives
on fences and under bark.
—
in
the other species
THE THOMISID/E
Xysticus
triguttatus.
— This
is
small
a
and
common
very
The female
spider living on grass and low bushes.
fifth of
33
about a
an inch long and the male as large but with a smaller
The
abdomen.
is
difference in the color of the sexes
is
so great that they
may
easily be
mistaken for different species.
females
the
The
95) are straw-colored,
(fig.
abdomen almost
white, and the
thorax and legs brownish yellow.
There are three black spots at the
back of the thorax and indistinct
darker bands at the sides. On the
abdomen
are two black spots near
the front end and three pairs of
broken transverse stripes behind.
The male
{fig.
96)
has
the femora of
Fk;s. 95, 96, 97.
— 95, female.
Xysticus triguttatus.
Both en96, male.
larged four times.
much enlarged
to
head
show eyes and
97, front of
the two front
legs dark
brown, the
mandibles.
rest
female or a
little
darker.
dark brown, except
it
is
a
little lighter,
abdomen
of the
like
is
the middle, where
in
as in the female.
male
the
The thorax
is
The
strongly marked
with transverse black and white stripes,
irregular toward the front end.
Xysticus quadrilineatus.
— Quarter
of an F1G.9S.
inch long, with the thorax a tenth of an
Xysticus quadriiine-
atus, enlarged four times.
inch wide and the head unusually wide in front.
The
color
is
brown markings and black spots. The
cephalothorax has four narrow brown stripes, one on each side
light yellow, with light
THE COMMON SPIDERS
34
and the others running back from the lateral
there are also two fine brown lines sometimes
close to the edge
eyes
(fig.
98)
;
extending from the middle eyes to the dorsal groove, but usually
There is a brown spot just behind the
broken in the middle.
dorsal groove and two others in the middle of the cephalothorax.
On
abdomen there
the
two
in the
are two black spots at the front
middle and two near the hind end, besides
There
several smaller ones along the sides.
brown
are four light
lines across the hinder
each with a white line behind
half,
brown
at the sides are oblique
nating with white.
light
line
along
The
the
it,
and
lines alter-
legs have a distinct
dorsal
and are
side
covered with fine brown spots without any
other markings.
Xysticus
versicolor.
(Coriarachne)
— The
abdomen, and legs are all much
flattened, the head is low, and the upper
thorax,
and lower eyes nearer together than
other species.
gray
in
(figs.
99,
100).
bark
can
-
99,
fe-
male. 100, male. Both
enlarged four times.
On
legs at the end of each joint
the thorax
front of the
abdomen.
is
spider
This
unpainted
be
seen.
pairs
of
and the usual
dark marks on the abdo-
a white spot in the middle under the
Around
this spot
and behind the eyes
black extending in spots along the sides.
in
or
hardly
ground
Light individuals have black spots on the
three
and
the
Xysticus
Fi(;s. 99, 100.
versicolor. -
is
On
spiders
in
are black and
colors
irregular spots on a light
wood these
men.
The
In dark females
most males the dark spots are so large that the whole
is
nearly black.
is
depressa,
a
is
common spider, and a similar
common in Europe.
equally
species, Coriarachne
THE THOMISID/E
35
THE GENUS PHILODROAIUS
In these spiders there
less difference in length
is
the front and hind legs than in
legs are long
Misumena
between
The
or Xysticus.
and slender, the
second pair longest, and the
body
small
is
and
and
flat,
abdomen pointed behind.
The colors are brown and gray,
the
and the whole body
often
is
covered with fine flattened hairs
that in the males are iridescent.
P/nlodro7)U(s vulgaris lives usually
on houses and fences, but
the other species on plants.
Philodromus vulgaris.
— About
an inch long, the legs of
cjuarter of
the female spreading over an inch
and those of the male an inch and
a quarter
(figs.
often stand with
sidewise,
flat
loi,
all
against a wall or fence
which they closely resemble
When
They
102).
the legs extended
in color.
freshly molted they are cov-
ered with fine gray hairs of the color
of
weathered boards, that obscure
most
of the markings.
Older spiders
102
or those wet with alcohol are covered
with
small
gray spots
forming a
stripe in the middle of the front of
the
abdomen and
pattern
abdomen
a
on the hinder
herringbone
half.
are dark and form
Figs, ioi, 102, 103, 104.
vulgaris.
loi, male.
—
Philodromus
102, female.
Both enlarged four times. 103, tibia
of the male palpus.
104, one of the
feet.
The edges
of the
back of the
a sharp line against the light
THE COMMON SPIDERS
36
color
under surface.
the
of
The thorax
darker
is
the
in
The
middle and at the sides in irregular spots of gray.
legs
are spotted and darker toward the ends of the joints.
The under
side of
body and legs
Philodromus
is
ornatus.
light
— This
colored.
is
a small
species about one-eighth of an inch long.
The female
is
very distinctly marked with
dark brown on a white ground
The middle
Fig. 105.
ornatus.
of the thorax
sides
brown nearly
men
is
Philodromus
— Female enthis
105).
to the edge.
The
abdo-
white, with a distinct
also an indistinct
but
(fig.
white and the
brown band
on each side from the front more than half
its length backward.
Sometimes there is
larged six times.
middle,
is
brownish pattern
in
the
usually
is
absent in adults, and the middle
the
is entirely white.
Under
abdomen the lateral brown
bands extend backward and
meet around the spinnerets.
The abdomen
is
wider than
—
most species,
nearly as
wide as it is long across
in
the hinder
is
half.
The male
very differently colored.
The
legs and thorax are
orange brown, darker
the sides of
the
at
thorax
and toward the ends
of
The abdomen
darker brown and
the legs.
is
strongly
iridescent
with
—
Figs. io6, 107. Philodromus lineatus.
106, female.
Both enlarged six times.
107, male.
red and green in a bright light.
In alcohol
it
shows indistinctly
I
THE THOMISID/E
37
The
legs are longer and
the same markings as the female.
abdomen narrower,
the
Philodromus lineatus.
larger
than
in
or
life
lighter
than
oniatiis,
as in males of other species.
— The
the brown
markings are
a
little
lighter,
and,
is
when freshly killed, purplish in the
parts.
The markings are less distinct
in oniatns, the
brown and white
The abdo-
running into each other.
men
female of this species
has
a
brown band each
side,
often broken into several spots, and
a
brown band
ing back half
in the
its
are several lighter
107).
middle extend-
length, behind which
marks
Between these
are
oblique lighter markings
of spots.
The
io6,
(figs.
several
and rows
legs are light
gray,
darker toward
the ends of the
Philodromus
Figs. ioS, 109, no.
pictus.
1 10, adult female.
io(),
male without the legs. loS, mark-
—
joints.
Philodromus
pictus.
abdomen of a young
All enlarged six times.
ings of the
—
female.
Female about one-fifth of an inch
abdomen nearly twice
long, the
as long as the thorax, with the
widest
Fig. III.
Ebo
latithorax, enlarged
part
across
farther
forward
species
(fig.
1
middle
the
than
in
most
Legs and
brown
10).
palpi pale yellow with fine
twelve times.
spots.
Thorax
light
yellow in
the middle and reddish brown at the sides, covered with fine
spots.
Abdomen
dull red at the sides
middle, with a dark
mark
two dark marks behind
it
in the
and bright yellow
in
the
middle of the front half and
on the hinder
half.
The
eyes are
THE COMMOxN SPIDERS
In some specimens, usually
surrounded by distinct light rings.
immature, the abdomen has a more distinct yellow and red
pattern
(fig.
The male
abdomen less
io8).
darker and the
109) has the thorax and legs
(fig.
bright red and yellow than the
female, sometimes gray and iridescent.
Ebo
latithorax,
— In color and
general appearance this resem-
is at once distinguished by the length
which are more than twice as long as any
bles Philodromus, but
second
of the
legs,
The thorax is wider
and the abdomen is wider than in
Philodromus. The head is narrow and rounded in front. The
of the others
iii).
(fig.
front middle eyes are largest
The
and farthest
forward.
colors are gray
and white, with
black spots in the darker parts,
The length
much over an eighth of
as in Philodromus.
not
is
an inch and the length of the
longest legs quarter of an inch.
Tmarus
"3
der
—
112,
Figs. 112, 113. Tmarus caudatus.
female enlarged six times. 113, left side
of the
is
colored,
or projection
round
— This
dromns vulgaris and
abdomen.
guished from
caudatus.
about as large as
but
spi-
PJiilo-
similarly
may be
distin-
abdomen and the short tail
The thorax is
over the spinnerets (fig. 113).
it
by the height of
at the sides
and square
its
in front,
and the mandibles are
inclined forward so that they can be seen from above.
The
two rows
and
of eyes are farther apart than in Philodromus,
the lateral eyes of both rows are raised on tubercles.
the eyes are several black spots that
extra eyes,
and there are similar spots on the
thickly on the front pairs.
On
Among
may be mistaken
legs,
for
most
the back of the thorax are
THE THOAIISID/E
The abdomen
radiating white lines.
marked behind with two or three
lines
On
112).
(fig.
,.///,
pale,
.#/
mm
abdomen.
gray under the
of
third and fourth legs are shorter
than the
and second, the
first
front and
in
pairs of indistinct transverse
without spots except a wide middle
The
light
is
the under side
the whole body and legs are
band
39
differ-
ence being greater than in Philodro-
mus and
114
than in Misumena.
less
Tibellus duttonii.
— This
is
a very
The body
on bushes and grass.
common
is
spider
slender, from
a third to half an inch long, and a tenth of an
inch wide
115).
(fig.
The
thorax
an eighth of
is
an inch long, widest across the hinder half and
narrowed toward the
front,
where
it
eyes
of
hinder row
is
the sides and a
is
The
116).
(fig.
The abdomen
little
is
pointed behind.
straight at
The
color
light gray or yellow, with a darker gray line
the
in
middle,
toward the eyes.
the
thorax
lines.
its
off
twice as long as the front row and
the eyes larger.
all
curved
strongly
are
cut
is
Both rows
nearly straight over the mandibles.
On
are
divided
into
At the
two
sides of
longitudinal
other
the abdomen, one-third
length from the hinder end,
is
a pair of small round or oval black
spots.
The
legs are light gray, with
Figs. 114, 115, 116.
—
of the feet.
no markings
except
a
few black
115,
116, front of
head, showing eyes and mandibles.
hairs.
Thanatus
Tibellus
female enlarged four times.
1 14, one
duttonii.
coloradensis
or
lycosoides.
— In
color
appearance this resembles Philodromus, but
is
and
not as
general
flat,
and
THE COMMON SPIDERS
40
the legs are not as long and slender.
light gray, with a distinct
wide
The general
color
is
light stripe in the middle of
the thorax, and a dark brown pointed stripe with white edges
middle of the front half of the abdomen
in the
head
is
a
little
(fig.
117).
The
longer and higher than in most Thomisidae, and
a little longer and not so much widened behind.
much as in Philodromus, but larger and nearer
The whole body is hairy, with longer and darker
together.
The males differ but
hairs scattered among the short ones.
the
abdomen
The eyes
little
is
are
from the females except
and darker
They
color.
for Philodromus
(p.
live
in
having a
little
35) or for Ocya/c uiidata
(p.
88).
^-
Fig. 117.
longer hairs
on plants and may be mistaken
Thanatus coloradensis, enlarged four times.
THE ATTIDAL
The
many of them brightly
movements and living in open places
low plants.
They are usually short and
Attidae are jumping spiders,
colored and quick in their
among
the tops of
stout spiders, with a large cephalothorax,
which
is
wide
in front,
where the eyes have a peculiar arrangement in three rows
(fig. 1 1 8), somewhat as in the Lycosidae, but with the middle
eyes of the front row much the largest, so that at first sight
many of them appear to have only two eyes.
The eyes of the second row are very small and
hard to see, and those of the third row are far
back on the head and usually turned a
backward.
The
little
front legs are usually thicker
The
than the others, especially
in
the males.
relative length of the legs
is
variable, the first
pair being
commonly the
longest, but some-
times the fourth and even in some species the
third
pair.
The
feet
have two claws, with
Front of
head of Phidippus
niystaceus, showing eyes and man-
Fig. 118.
dibles.
I
many fine teeth and a thick brush of hairs.
The Attidae are usually thickly covered with
hair or scales,
often brightly colored or iridescent, and their appearance
is
often entirely changed by rubbing or wetting.
They walk backward or sidewise as well as forward, and many
them jump great distances. They make no cobwebs, but
some species make silk tubes or bags on plants or under stones
of
in
which they hide to molt or lay their eggs or to pass the
There are often great differences in color and mark-
winter.
ings between the sexes, and the males have peculiar bunches
41
THE COMMOxX SPIDERS
42
and color spots on the legs and head.
of hairs
At the mating
time some of the males have peculiar ways of approaching the
female, holding their legs extended sidewise or over their heads
such ways as to
in
display
orna-
their
These mating habits have been
well described by G. W. Peckham, who has
made a special study of this family, in the
ments.
Occasional Papos of tJic Wisconsin A^atnral
History Society, of Milwaukee, in 1889.
This family
is
largely represented in
more
southern countries, and our species belong
Fic..
1
19.
to a great
number
members
live farther south.
Attus
Attiis palustris
of genera
palustris.
most
— Large
of
whose
females are
enlarged six times.
quarter of an inch long, the males a
The cephalothorax
smaller.
shorter in proportion to
which
Saitis pnlcx,
it
its
is
little
a quarter longer than wide,
width than
in
the next species,
much
The two sexes
resembles.
resemble each other
in
mark-
ings, but the females are lighter
and
browner
and
the
males
The
cepha-
narrow
white
darker and grayer.
lothorax
middle
has
a
widened opposite
line,
the dorsal eyes, and a shorter
J^
white line just below the eyes
The
on the sides
(fig,
edge of
cephalothorax
the
On
also white.
.,
e
.
1
11
119).
the
is
abdomen
.
the front middle spot
is
figs. 120, 121. Saitispuiex.— 120, female.
121, male.
Both enlarged six times.
not so
distinct as in pulex, but in place of
Behind these
is
it
are two white spots.
a large transverse light marking, sometimes
THE ATTID/E
43
The legs are dark or light gray, without
The male palpi are smaller than in
markings.
broken into two spots.
any distinct
pulcx, though the males are
and makes nests among the
This is one
Saitis pulex.
—
is
larger.
Pa/itstris lives
on plants
leaves.
of the smallest of the family.
It
The
about a sixth of an inch long, sometimes even smaller.
colors are various
shades of gray like
ground, and
the
when
still it is
hard to
it
but
lind,
an active
is
spider and exposes
by jumping
itself
in
open places.
The
cephalotho-
rax
half longer
is
than wide, longer
and narrower than
Habrocestum
in
and Attus.
The
abdomen
usu-
ally
is
shorter than
the cephalothorax
and
wider
I20,
I2i).
Figs. 122, 123.
(figs.
—
Habrocestum auratum.
122, male.
Roth enlarged eight times.
123, female.
The
cephalothorax has a large light-colored triangle
in
the middle,
covering the head between the eyes in front and ending in a point
behind.
In alcohol this spot disappears, especially in the males,
and the head appears black between the eyes and light behind
and
at the sides.
middle
middle.
stripe,
The
front half of the
lightest at the edges
Behind
this
is
a
abdomen has
and darker gray
a light
in
the
transverse white spot nearly the
THE COMMON SPIDERS
44
abdomen and behind
several smaller light
whole width
of the
markings.
In the male these markings are brighter and the
surrounding dark color blacker than
it
The
in the females.
legs
are marked with indefinite spots of dark gray on a lighter
The
ground, the contrast stronger in the males.
hairs
all
over
the body are short and fine and the spines on the legs distinct,
especially in the males.
Habrocestum auratum.
white hairs that give
ings.
— In
it
The markings
life this
spider
covered with bluish
is
a light gray color and obscure the markof the
male are so much stronger that
those of both sexes can be best understood by describing the
male
first
(fig.
122).
The cephalothorax
has a white middle
back from the front eyes and two
distinct white stripes from the lateral front eyes back the whole
lenofth.
In the middle of the
stripe for a short distance
head are two small white spots
and just behind them between
the posterior eyes two curved
white
lines.
show
Down
males.
the
The
indistinctly
latter
in
meeting
the eyes.
fe-
at the sides of
cephalothorax are
stripes
marks
the
in
white
front under
The abdomen has
a
white line extending entirely
around
and first legs of
male Habrocestum auratum to show differences between this species and the next.
Figs. 124, 125.
Third
—
124, third leg.
it
and a middle stripe
of varying width.
The female
(fig.
123)
has
125, first leg.
only faint indications of the
markings of the cephalothorax, usually a little lighter color in
The white stripe
the middle and at the sides below the eyes.
around the abdomen is broken into three pairs of oblique white
markings and the middle stripe
into several spots or pairs of
THE
There
spots.
ATTID.-E
nothing distinctive
is
45
in
the markings of the
under side or of the legs except the ornaments of the male.
The
(fig.
front legs of the male
species are
this
125) in
much ornamented. The femur
has long black hairs on the
side.
The
long black
hairs
under
patella has
beneath,
a
spot of short black hairs on the inner
and a crest of long white hairs mixed
with shorter black on the upper side.
side,
The
tibia
covered
is
with long black
hairs except at the tip,
There
white.
the third leg
is
where they are
nothing peculiar about
(fig.
The form and
124).
general appearance can best be understood
from the
figures.
At the mating time the
males, as they
approach the females, hold the front legs
extended sidewise and lifted a little from
the ground, with the tibia nearly horizontal
and the tarsus turned downward.
In this
position they advance slowly, at the
same
time running rapidly sidewise from one
side to
the other and at short intervals
abdomen and the front legs
They go almost close
jerking the
slightly upward.
enough
to
touch
the
quickly retreat.
Habrocestum peregrinum.
female
— This
and then
is
about
Figs. 126, 127, 128. Habrocestum peregrinum.
female enlarged
128,
—
six
leg.
times.
third
126,
127, first leg.
the same size as aiiratn^n and looks very
much
like
it.
distinct light
The
mark
female, at any rate in alcohol, has a
in the
more
middle of the cephalothorax, curving
—
THE COMMON SPIDERS
46
under the eyes and pointing forward in the middle (fig. 128).
The abdomen has light markings in the middle similar to those
of aiiratiivi, but those at the sides are less distinct.
The male has the white stripes in the middle and around the
abdomen like auratiim. The cephalothorax has the same white
lines at the sides
under the eyes and
at the posterior end.
It
does not have a middle white stripe on the head between the
eyes or two white spots just behind
as aiiratmn has, but the
it,
marking behind the eyes
is
in
The
the female.
is
more
distinct, as
it
front legs of the male
ornamented with long hairs
(fig.
127) are not
like
auTatnni, but the third legs have a very
peculiar shape, the patella being wide and
with a dark spot
(fig.
in
The shape
126).
shown by the
flat,
the middle of the front side
figure.
of
joint
this
When
best
is
approaching the
female he holds up the front legs and draws in
the third pair so that the ornamented patellae
show from
in front.
Habrocestum splendens.
—A
little
larger than
the other species, with the female distinctly
Fig. 129. Habrocestum splendens.
Male enlarged
eight times.
marked with black and white and the male with
brilliant red
The females
and iridescent scales.
are about a quarter of an inch long, sometimes
longer, and the males are a
the female
is
little
smaller.
The cephalothorax
covered with brown scales mixed with black
Across the middle, just behind the dorsal eyes,
is
a light
of
hairs.
band
that curves behind the eyes and extends forward in the middle.
The abdomen has
a white
band
in front,
one on each
one in the middle, the rest being deep black.
side,
and
The shape
of
these markings varies and the black parts are often broken
into
two rows
of
spots.
The cephalothorax
of
the male
is
covered with dark iridescent scales, with blue, green, and purple
THE ATTID^
The abdomen
reflections.
mixed with
scales
is
47
covered with bright red shiny-
fine black hairs.
It
is
lighter in front
and
the sides, and in the middle shows indis-
at
tinctly through the scales dark
those of the female
(fig.
129).
markings
The
like
legs are
dark like the cephalothorax.
Mr. Peckham says that when the male
approaches the female he lifts his abdomen
into an almost vertical position so that the
red color shows from in front.
Then he
on the tips of his feet and, with the
rises
front legs off the ground and pointing for-
ward, he dances back and
sidewise in front of
forth
her,
gradually drawing
At inter-
nearer.
vals
Neon
Figs. 130, 131.
nellii.
—
131,
female
enlarged sixteen
times.
130, side of
he stops and
turns his back to
her,
then faces her
and dances again.
cephalothorax, show-
Neon
ing position of eyes.
is
nellii.
— This
one of the small-
est spiders of the family, only a tenth
an inch
of
color
is
in length.
The cephalothorax
being a
it
The
general
dark gray, darkest toward the head.
little
is
high, the highest part
behind the middle, from which
curves downward to the front eyes and
slopes abruptly backward
(fig.
130).
The
eyes are large and prominent, the front row
nearly straight and as wide as the widest part
of the cephalothorax.
are
The
Fig. 132.
tini.
Zygoballus betenlarged
— Female
eight times.
posterior eyes
nearly as large as the front middle pair and are in the
THE COMMON SPIDERS
48
The abdomen
middle of the cephalothorax.
a
is
longer
little
and wider than the cephalothorax (fig. 131). The cephalothorax
is smoky gray, darker toward the front and darker in males
than females.
in a
The abdomen
is
gray, with yellowish markings
Common
herringbone pattern through the middle.
stones and leaves at
sons.
Zygoballus
is
bettini.
under
sea-
all
— This
a very beautifully colored
spider,
having
in life spots of
white hairs and shining scales
of the
color of
of both sexes
in
copper and
The cephalothorax
bronze.
is
high and wide
the middle and slopes
from
steeply
the
down
posterior
eyes under the front of the
abdomen
(fig.
The
132).
top
of the cephalothorax
between
nearly
square.
the
The
the
eyes
is
posterior eyes are almost
full
width of the cephalo-
thorax apart, and the front
row
of eyes is nearly as long.
The cephalothorax
Fig.
Phidippus multiformis.
— Female
enlarged six times.
brown covered with
scales.
except the dark femora of the
first
ends of the joints of the fourth
pair.
are a
little
pair
The
legs
is
dark
iridescent
are pale,
and dark spots on the
In the male
all
the legs
darker than in the female and without the spots on
The abdomen of the female is light brown,
marked with white in a row of irregular spots. In the male
the abdomen is brown, covered with shining scales and with a
the fourth leg.
THE
ATTID.'E
49
white band around the front and two white spots on each
The mandibles
ends to make room for the long claw.
at the
angle
is
a large tooth, and there
shape on the middle of the under
— This
Phidippus multiformis.
throughout the summer.
females are so
side.
male are much elongated and bent apart
of the
It
is
is
At
the inner
another one of complicated
side.
a very
matures
common
in July,
spider on plants
and the males and
alike as to be taken
little
The males
for different species.
(fig.
134) are black, with white and orange
markings on the abdomen, while the
females are brown mixed with black,
white,
and
yellow
scales
and
small
white spots.
The
usual length
is
about a third of
an inch in both sexes.
thorax
is
The
cephalo-
nearly as broad as long, and
the abdomen of the female as wide as
the thorax and a
The
is
little
longer.
general color of the adult female
yellowish brown, with black and white
markings
of the
(fig.
133).
abdomen
is
Around the
front
a white band, and on
the back are two indistinct longitudinal
black stripes in which are four pairs of
white spots.
is
The
Fig. 134.
tiformis.
are
most brightly colored
maturity, and then there
orange scales
spots are
in their
more
shapes, the most
The
mul-
enlarged
six times.
general brown color
produced by a mixture of scales and hairs
The females
Phidippus
— Male
is
just
of various colors.
before reaching
a large proportion of yellow and
covering and the black stripes and white
distinct.
common
The
hairs
and scales are
of various
being that of slightly flattened
hairs.
yellow and orange scales are wider and less pointed, and
THE COMMON SPIDERS
50
Under the abdo-
the white spots have short and wide scales.
men
The
the color
is
light gray, with
two
parallel darker stripes.
legs are pale in the middle of the joints and dark toward
the ends and covered with gray and black hairs.
The
palpi are
light yellow.
In alcohol the orange color disappears almost entirely, the
black and white markings become less distinct, and
colors browner.
The
colors of the male
(fig.
all
the
134) are entirely
The cephalothorax and legs to the end of the tibia
The palpi are black, with a stripe of white scales on
upper side. Around the front end of the abdomen is a
different.
are black.
the
the sides are bright orange red and the middle
Between the orange and black are three pairs of white
They make a bag of white silk
spots.
among leaves, in which in the early summer a male and female may sometimes
be found together and in which the female
The young
later makes a cocoon of eggs.
hatch soon and become half grown before
white stripe
black.
;
winter.
Phidippus
mystaceus.
—A
stout
species
half an inch long, gray and hairy, in alcohol
turning
gray
at
The abdomen
brown.
is
light
the sides and dark in the middle,
with four pairs of white spots, the third
pair largest
Phidippus myenlarged six
is
(fig.
135).
The cephalothorax
The
round and nearly as wide as long.
front
row
of eyes
is little
longer than half
the greatest width of the cephalothorax.
The cephalothorax
and
in front
flat
on top for almost
its
whole length
The mandibles are large and bright metallic green in
The legs are stout and short, the fourth pair
(fig. 118).
height.
front
is
about twice the diameter of the largest eyes in
THE ATTID^
51
beyond the spinnerets. The first and fourth
pairs are of the same length, but the first are twice as thick as
The legs are without markings and darker toward
the fourth.
The abdomen is longer than the cephalothorax and
the head.
There is little difference
as wide or wider.
extending
little
between the sexes, the males being only a little
Usually
darker colored and larger in front.
found under stones
in a thick silk nest.
— Black,
Phidippus tripunctatus.
with three
bright white spots on the back of the abdo-
men
inch long
Though
fied,
Large females are
136).
(fig.
and the males a
the general color
is
half an
smaller.
little
black,
it is
modi-
especially in fresh specimens, by white
The
hairs on parts of the body.
grayish in
legs are
toward the ends.
the
joints of the
middle and black
There are white
hairs on
the front of the head and upper side of the
and a white band around the front
palpi
of
times.
The
abdomen correspond
the abdomen, plainest in the males.
three large white spots on the
second and third pairs
(fig.
133),
small and inconspicuous.
winter half grown
On
or almost
This
is
a
common
spider
all
over
under stones and sticks and passes the
— Very
half an inch in length.
males
135) and vuiltiforniis
though generally present, are
the under side of the abdomen
in a thick silk bag.
Plexippus puerperus.
yellow,
the
pairs,
are usually two gray stripes.
It lives
to
in niystaccns (fig.
and the other
the country.
Fig. 136. Phidippus tripunctatus, enlarged six
white,
variable in
The females
size,
(fig.
from a third to
137) are pale, light
with a few black spots, while the
138) have the cephalothorax and legs brown, sometimes almost black.
In both sexes the mandibles are large
and the cephalothorax high and flat on the top as far back as
(fig.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
52
The
the hinder eyes.
The
other.
front middle eyes nearly touch
The middle
the front ones.
eyes are nearer the
In the males the front
than the dorsal.
lateral
each
diameter higher than
lateral eyes are half their
eyes are nearly their diameter above the mandibles,
and below them
f'Y
a white band and a line of white
is
head
hairs
from the middle
down
to the base of the first legs.
The
legs
of the
are
rather
slender in both sexes
and long
The
in
the males.
fourth
pair
are
longest in females, and
in
Plexippus puerenlarged
Fig. 137.
perus.
— Female
males the
fourth
six times.
length.
of
the
abdomen
sexes, with
two
are
much
light stripes,
first
the
are
and
same
The markings
alike
more
in
both
definite in
the males, bordered by a few small black
spots irregularly arranged.
the
abdomen
is
long,
The stem
thorax appear farther apart than
many
cephalothorax
in
In the females the
species.
is
pale,
of
and the abdomen and
with a few gray
figs. 138, 139.
perus.—
138,
times.
139,
male.
Plexippus puer-
male enlarged six
front of head of
THE ATTID^
spots from the middle toward the sides.
53
In the males the legs
brown except the inner half of the femur of the third
and fourth, which is light like the abdomen. The male cephalothorax is dark and has a square white spot between the eyes,
two white lines pointing up from the third and fourth legs each
side, and two short white lines under the dorsal eyes.
The
under side of the thorax and legs is dark or light like the upper
are dark
side.
The under side
of the
abdomen
is
usually darker in the
middle and sometimes has a few black
This
spots each side.
is
a
common
spider
in the southern states
and has been found as
far south as Brazil.
Dendryphantes
taris.
— This
spider
many
resembles
in
ways the
next
cies,
spe-
DendrypJiantcs
cestivalis,
half
mili-
but
larger
is
one-
and has
Figs. 140, 141.
—
Dendryphantes niilitaris.
140, female.
Both enlarged six times.
141, male.
a shorter and wider
cephalothorax.
and black
hairs.
The general color is brown, covered with gray
The abdomen of the female is brown, with
white at the front end and four pairs of oblique white marks
the middle and four at the sides
(fig.
140).
in
In the male the
cephalothorax has a white band on each side under the eyes
and a white band around the abdomen, with a dark middle area
The dark parts of the legs and cephalothorax are
(fig. 141).
darker than the same parts
in
the female.
The
palpi are
THE COMMON SPIDERS
54
slender in both sexes, and
small
for
so
large
in
the male the palpal organs are
The mandibles
a spider.
male
the
of
are widened at the end and have a strong projection with two
teeth on the inner corners.
Dendryphantes
One
the
of
Attidae,
on
all
and small
aestivalis.
—
common
most
kinds of bushes
and one of
trees,
the most variable in size and
\
Large females are
color.
from a
to a quarter of
fifth
an inch long, and the males
The females
are smaller.
of
two
into each other.
The
are
which run
varieties,
light variety
(fig.
144) has the light parts white or light
yellow and the dark parts dark brown
covered
with
white
The cephalothorax
covered
color
The
with
and
hairs
scales,
so
the dark
that
shows between them
legs are light yellow
cent, indistinctly
scales.
dark brown, thinly
is
places.
in
and translu-
ringed with brown at
the base and, near the tip of each joint,
white
hairs.
are light and without
rings
except on the femur and patella.
The
all
Figs. 142, 143, 144. Dendryphantes aestivalis.
142,
—
male.
female.
of
143,
dark variety
of
144, light variety
female.
All
enlarged
six times.
covered with
The
palpi
abdomcn
brighter
is
•
1
greenish
r
•
yellow
r
than
1
•
1
the
i
brown
spots, the second pair largest, connected with a paler brown middle marking.
The abdomen has beneath a purple brown
stripe in the middle and oblique brown marks at the sides.
thorax, with tour pairs or purplish
Sternum,
maxillae,
and mandibles
light
brown.
The dark
THE ATTID/E
variety
(fig.
and
hairs
143)
more
generally smaller and covered with longer
is
The legs and palpi are more distinctly ringed
The dark spots on the abdomen are larger and
scales.
with brown.
the
55
closely connected,
markings
appear
so that
as
light
spots on a dark ground.
In alcohol they
become bright
red and afterward fade to a dull
red color that remains for a long
time, both varieties in this con-
much
dition looking
The males
extremely from the
sight,
first
The
females.
in the
alike.
142) differ, at
(fig.
legs are ringed as
female and the brown parts
are wider and less obscured by white hairs,
while the white parts are
cephalothorax
is
The
whiter.
dark brown, with a white
on each side under the eyes bending toward each other but not connected.
stripe
The
front of the head
is
have the femur dark brown
and white
tibia are
at the
end.
The
palpi
at the
The
base
with white hairs on the upper
is
around the
is
patella
brown, and the tarsus
abdomen
white
sides.
in
and
also white
covered with long white hairs.
The
side.
front and
The middle
dark brown, with a few yellow
and
brown,
is
Figs. 145, 146, 147, 148. Icius palmariini.
Both en146, female.
145, male.
larged six times.
147, front of head of
—
male.
148,
abdomen
of female to
show
a variety of marking.
and greenish
area
is
scales.
The brown
often notched at the sides in four points and sometimes
indistinctly divided into four pairs of spots, as in the female.
The male
palpi are large for the size of the spider,
palpal organ extends back
beyond the
tibia.
and the
THE COMMON SPIDERS
56
—
Icius palmarum.
This is very common on trees and bushes,
and may be mistaken for Dendryphaiites csstivalis, which it much
resembles.
It differs from cestivalis in both sexes in being a
smaller and
little
more slender and
In the males the head
colored.
and darker colored than
the females lighter
in
wider, the front legs longer
is
and the mandibles longer
in cEstivalis,
and more nearly horizontal.
The
living female has the legS
sometimes a
body
and palpi transparent white,
darker at the ends of the joints.
The whole
covered with light gray or white scales mixed with fine
is
black hairs.
in
little
The abdomen has
a
row
of darker triangular spots
the middle and oblique rows of small spots at the sides.
alcohol the legs
become yellow and the
as in cBstivalis, afterward fading to a dirty yellow.
ings of the
abdomen become more
distinct
viduals form four large dark
In
body red,
The mark-
rest of the
and
brown
in
some
indi-
spots.
The males have the front legs very dark brown.
The other legs are transparent white. The cephalothorax and abdomen are dark reddish brown
mixed with shining greenish white scales and
sometimes copper red around the eyes. On
each side
is
a white stripe the whole length
of the body, the
mandibles, maxillas, and palpi
Some males show indistinctly
female.
tus.
— Male enlarged
or less
length.
and
markings
of
the
The mandibles
abdomen
of
the
like
the
male are
longer than those of the female and more
six times.
little
below
The
dorsal
Icius mitra-
in front
are dark brown.
the eyes.
Fig. 149.
two meeting
turned
In
forward according to their
some the mandibles
are only a
longer than those of the female, and in these the patella
tibia of the front legs are not
much
longer than the femur.
In others, usually larger spiders, the mandibles are nearly as
thp:
attid^
57
long as the cephalothorax and extend forward horizontally, the
maxillae are longer, and the
tibia
legs have the patella
one and a half times as long as the femur.
longer
in
width
than
has
first pair of
the
proportion
in
to
legs
The female
is
its
and
cestivalis
front
and
stouter.
The epigynum has two
small
anterior openings directed for-
ward instead
other,
as
in
toward each
of
and the next species
low bushes
This
cBstivalis.
summer.
all
Icius mitratus.
on
live
— This species
closely resembles Icius
palma-
ritviy
differing mainly in color.
The
legs are all white in both
_
figs. 150, 151.
151, male.
iduseiegans.-
150, female.
Both enlarged six times.
and the mandibles of the
male are white and not long and horizontal, as
sexes,
in palnianivi.
it is difficult
The females resemble palniarum
to tell them apart.
The cephalothorax is a trifle wider, and
the abdomen narrower, and the front legs longer than in
The general color is whiter, and the spots on the
palmaruni.
abdomen are more distinct, as in fig. 148. The male has the
so closely that
legs white or a
little
greenish, with long white hairs, those on
the front legs longer than the diameter of the legs.
of the
body
is
white, except a light
of the cephalothorax
hairs,
and abdomen, covered with
rest
middle
light yellow
through which three or four dark spots show indistinctly
on the abdomen
or
brown
The
stripe in the
(fig.
when approaching
149),
When
fighting with other males,
the
female,
the hairy front legs are
straightened and extended sidewise.
Icius elegans.
—A
little
bronze green spider, from a sixth to
a quarter of an inch long.
The cephalothorax
is
two-thirds
THE COMMON SPIDERS
58
and
as wide as long, with the sides nearly straight
parallel in
The
abdomen of the female is oval and nearly twice as long as wide.
The color is bronze green, changing in some lights to copper
red.
The legs are yellow, with longitudinal dark stripes, except
the female but widened behind the middle in the male.
the
which are dark brown.
femora,
front
The males are much more brightly colored.
The legs are orange, darker toward the ends,
with fine dark longitudinal stripes. The ends
of the front tibiae are dark
brown and have
long brow^n hairs on the inner and upper
side.
The
palpi are orange, darker toward
The
the end.
sides
and hinder part
of the cephalothorax are orange,
and there
is
a white line over the
The upper part of the cephalothorax and abdomen is covered
coxae.
On
with greenish yellow scales.
the front of the head are two tufts
of long hairs, yellow
mixed with
black, pointing forward
inward between
lateral eyes.
of
Fig. 152. Maevia
vittata.
Female enlarged
—
six times.
the
purple
little
an iridescent
The
abdomen
side,
all
is
and the
the colors become
In
dull.
are slender, and the claw short and strongly
longer and hollowed a
male has the
others.
spot.
the hinder end
is
sternum and coxae are orange.
In the male the mandibles
curved inward toward the point.
are a
abdomen
little
the middle and
green on the under
alcohol
The mandibles
On
and a
first
pair of legs
little
much
on the inner
side.
The
longer and larger than the
In the female the fourth legs are longest.
THE ATTID/E
Maevia vittata.
of an inch long
— This
is
59
a brightly colored spider about a third
and with unusually long legs for
the fourth pair longest in the females and the
of equal length in the males.
The female
this family,
first
(fig.
—
and fourth
152) has the
and palpi translucent yellow or greenish white. They are
marked with indistinct light gray rings and black spots at the
base of the hairs and spines. The cephalothorax is dark brown
between the eyes
and translucent
like the legs in
legs
the thoracic part.
There
is
a
fine
black line in the
middle and one on
each
side
and
a
few gray marks
radiating from the
dorsal groove.
Thewholetop
the cephalothorax
of
is
covered with green-
ish yellow scales
mixed
with gray hairs.
The
eyes
and
are
black,
sometimes there
red
stripe
eyes at the sides.
abdomen
is
a
under the
is
The
Figs. 153, 154.
times.
of head.
153,
—
Maevia vittata.
Males enlarged six
dark variety with long hairs on front
154, light variety colored like the female.
covered
in the middle and at the sides are gray and
mixed with black hairs. There are two longitudinal bands of
light red and indistinct angular marks of the same color in the
middle of the hinder half. On the under side the colors are light
gray and yellow, with spots of darker gray on the abdomen.
with scales which
THE COMMON SPIDERS
6o
The males
One
are of two very different colors.
The
resembles the female.
kind
(fig.
abdomen
red bands on the
i
54)
are
up into rows of spots connected with the middle
broken
The gray
angular markings.
and black spots on the legs and
cephalothorax are larger, and
there are several black marks
on the front of the abdomen.
The
bright
are
palpi
orange
hook
black and a black spot on the
with
yellow,
the
tibial
The
inner side of each joint.
black spots varies
size of the
in
different individuals,
and so
this passes into the other variety
(fig.
Figs. 155, 156.
Epiblemum
—
56,
153), in
thorax and
sceni-
cum.
155, female.
male. Both enlarged six times.
which the cephalo-
abdomen
are entirely
black and the palpi black, except
a few orange hairs on the outer
side.
The
black cephalothorax and
abdomen
The
dark greenish shining scales.
legs
are covered with
this variety
in
are
transparent white except the hairs, and on the front of the head
are three tufts of long hairs which are wanting in the light-
colored males.
Epiblemum scenicum,
— This
is
the
common
spider that lives on houses and fences
(fig.
gray and white
It is
155).
about
quarter of an inch long, the cephalothorax half longer than wide,
and the abdomen a
little
wider and longer.
around and above the eyes
is
white.
on each side of the cephalothorax, and
spots,
there
The front
There
in the
one each side of the dorsal groove.
is
is
side.
The
head
a white stripe
middle two white
On
the
a white stripe across the anterior end, and
marks on each
of the
abdomen
two oblique
legs are gray, with white rings not
—
THE ATTID/E
6l
On some indimarks are more definite than on others, the
gray ground having but few white scales mixed with it.
In
yellow
and
white
others
scales are
very distinctly marked, and the palpi white.
viduals the white
largely
mixed with the gray, and so
the contrast with the white spots
The males
less.
is
156) differ but
(fig.
or markings from
little in size, color,
the females, but the male mandibles
are
much
larger and extend horizon-
tally in front of the head,
sometimes
two-thirds as long as the cephalotho-
This
rax.
common European,
a
is
as well as American, spider.
It
is
occasionally found on the ground or
on
plants,
commonly on and
but
about houses.
Marptusa
familiaris.
— This
is
another
common species on fences and the outside of houses
grown
it
is
(fig.
157).
When
half an inch long.
whole body
much
is
flattened,
full
The
and
both the cephalothorax and abdomen
are
widened
cephalothorax
is
middle.
the
in
rounded
The
at the sides
and three-quarters as wide as long,
and the abdomen
it
is
long.
The
is
half as
wide as
legs are long and
stout, the fourth pair one-half longer
than the abodmen.
The
general color
Marptusa familiaris.
Female enlarged six times.
Fig. 157.
is
gray and white hairs.
gray, with long
The cephalothorax
band along the edge on each
side,
which
is
has a dark brown
larger and darker in
THE COMMON SPIDERS
62
The abdomen has
the males.
the middle a yellowish white
in
marking covering half its width, the front half straight and the
The legs are darker at the
hinder half notched at the sides.
ends of the joints and light in the middle. The under
side of the
abdomen has
Hyctia pikei.
a dark middle stripe.
— A slender species a quarter to a third
abdomen twice
of an inch in length, with the
and
as the cephalothorax,
seed or piece of straw
IS
in general
(fig.
as long
appearance
like
The whole body
158).
covered with silvery white hairs mixed with a few
loino:er
black ones.
The markings
of the
back
in
the male are a dark middle stripe on the abdo-
men, partly divided by notches into four spots
and a fine middle line and two less distinct side
lines
In the female the
on the cephalothorax.
on the abdomen is less definite and is
broken up into spots, and in young spiders the
stripe
whole body
is
The
pale yellow or greenish.
front legs are as long as the
abdomen
in
both
sexes, colored brown, and with the middle joints
They are not much used in
bemg extended straight forward and
walk-
thickened.
ing,
enough
to
clear the
walks with the other
raised
ground while the spider
six.
The other
legs are
pale and slender.
The
elongated shape of this spider distin-
guishes
]'iG.
1
58.
pikei,
Hyctia
enlarged
it
from
The markings and
eight times.
pairs
pointing
increase the long appearance.
legs
the other
all
common
the position of the legs, two
forward
The
and
two
The labium and
backward,
basal joints of the fourth
are brought close together, and those of the
almost as close.
Attidae.
first
pair
maxillae are a little longer
than usual and are partly covered by the
first legs.
THE ATTID^E
^i
common on sand grass, where nothing
and the young lying lengthwise on the leaves could
hardly be seen.
They mature in the middle of the summer.
When the male approaches the female he raises
I
have found this spider
else grows,
the front legs at an angle of sixty degrees with
each
other,
abdomen
the
raises
a
and
little,
advances by short runs, twitching
the front legs and
abdomen every
few moments.
Cyrba
taeniola.
—A
nearly black,
spider,
small
flat
the females
quarter of an inch long, and the
males a sixth of an inch
The cephalothorax
its
159).
one-half
than wide, very low and
longer
flat,
(fig.
is
with the sides parallel for half
length.
The
front middle eyes
are large and close together, the
100
159
—
Figs. 159, 160. Cyrba tEniola.
female enlarged eight times.
profile to
show
159,
160,
lateral
eyes
half
flatness of the back.
large
from them. The
as
and a
first
little
separated
legs are twice as thick as the others
and have the femora
flattened, but in
the female the fourth legs are longest.
The abdomen
thorax and a
all
over
the
cephalothorax
without
162
as wide as the cephalo-
is
little
longer.
body are
black,
is
markings.
The
Figs.
—
hairs
short.
The
smooth,
and
The abdomen
i=
IS
162.
161,
Hasarius hoyi.
161,
young
female enlarged
abdomen
six times,
162,
of adult female to
show
difference in markings
dark gray, with two rows of white spots often indistinct and
The legs have the femora and patella
and second pairs black or dark brown and the
perhaps sometimes absent.
and
tibia of first
THE COMMON SPIDERS
64
The under
Other joints light and black at the ends.
The sternum
black.
side
is
very short, so that the basal joints of
is
the front legs touch each other.
Hasarius
colors,
ho3ri.
— This
white and orange brown
usual,
may be known by
species
— the dark portions
brown
These
i6i, 162).
(figs.
brighter and the markings more distinct
In front around the eyes the cephalothorax
white hairs.
At
its
peculiar
or black and the light parts
is
colors are, as
in
the males.
covered with
the sides a white band extends backward
under the eyes, turning inward but not reaching the middle
There is a light band, part white and part orange,
line.
around the abdomen and several angular marks
middle, two of
them
In alcohol, and less
united into a large spot.
plainly seen
when
in the
the hinder half, sometimes
in
a light band under
alive, is
the hairs, extending across the middle of the cephalothorax
and forward
on the sides under the eyes.
In females
these markings are
all
less distinct, but traces of
be found
in
most
them can
individuals.
The
more brownish, and the
markings of the abdomen smaller
and more uniform in shape. The
colors are
markings of the legs are dark on
the middle joints and light at the
base and on the
tarsi,
with strong
contrasts in color in the males and'
formica.
times.
Figs. 163, 164. Svnemosvna
female enlarged eight
164, side of female.
— 163,
inch for large females.
Synemosyna
to be often
formica.
little in
^j^-^
The males
— A small
mistaken for one
the females.
spccies
is
of
are smaller.
spider so
(fig.
The length
about a quarter of an
163).
much
It
is
like an ant as
about quarter
THE ATTID^
an
of
long
inch
and
very
flat,
in front,
The stem
in the middle.
and widened behind so that
of the thorax
The cephalothorax
slender.
narrowed behind and the abdomen
deep depression
65
is
and each has a
of the
abdomen
is
it
is
nearly as wide as the ends
and abdomen, which
it
connects.
The
front middle eyes are large and cover two-thirds of
the width of the front of the head, and the rest of the
The legs are all slender, the hind
The general color is black, with yellow-
eyes are small.
pair longest.
ish or
orange-white markings.
white spot
There
is
a triangular
in front of the dorsal groove,
and one on
each side widening downward under the posterior
On
eyes.
the
abdomen there
is
a
white
stripe
extending downward from the dorsal depression on
each side and uniting
neath
(fig.
half of the
in a
large white patch under-
In pale individuals the whole front
164).
abdomen
is
light yellow or
Fig. 165.
Lyssomanes
viridis,
en-
larged
six
orange brown.
The second legs are entirely white, the others partly
black.
The male has the head higher and is darker
and more slender.
times.
colored
This spider not only resembles an ant in form and color but
moves
it
like
can do
first
an ant.
so,
It
does not jump like most Attidae, though
but walks and runs irregularly about and
lifts its
legs high like the antennae of ants.
Lyssomanes
viridis.
southern states.
—A
bright green spider
The arrangement
common
of the eyes differs
the
in
from
that usual in the Attida; by the front lateral eyes being higher
and closer together, so that they are over and behind the front
middle pair
(fig.
165).
The cephalothorax
is
narrow
in front,
—
much more than half as wide as it is across the middle.
The abdomen is narrower than the thorax and more than twice
as long as wide.
The female is a third of an inch in length,
and the male quarter of an inch. The legs are long and slender,
not
THE COMMON SPIDERS
66
the
first
pair longest
and thickest,
length and in the female a
little
the male half an inch in
in
shorter.
In the female the
mandibles are vertical and about as long as the height of the
In the male they are as long as the cephalothorax, curved
head.
apart,
The
and extended almost horizontally
color
markings.
is
light transparent green,
in front of
the head.
sometimes without any
Usually there are four pairs of small black spots on
the abdomen, and there are black spots around the eyes, except
around the front
live
pair,
where there
is
on low bushes and mature early
a
little
in
orange
color.
the summer.
They
THE LYCOSIDyE
The
rate,
Lycosidas are
among
the
those most often seen.
commonest spiders, or, at any
Most of them live near the
ground and move actively about without attempting to conceal
themselves.
Their colors are black and white or the colors of
the ground, stones, and dead leaves, sometimes nearly uniform
over the body,
all
in
other kinds arranged in a distinct pattern,
with strong contrasts between the light and dark parts.
some species the markings are brighter and more
The
on the under side than on the back.
fourth pair longest.
The
In
characteristic
legs are long, the
spines on the legs are long and often
when the spider
make them appear
darker colored than the skin, and
stand out from the legs and
and second legs are more covered with
is
active they
The
larger.
and
have the spines shorter and less easily seen than the third
and fourth. The feet have three claws, the under one small
first
and covered by the surrounding
iar
fine short hairs
The eyes have
hairs.
a pecul-
arrangement, the front row being small and nearly straight,
the middle pair of the upper row just above them and
larger, while the lateral eyes of this
upward on the
in three
rows of
row are carried back and
sides of the head so that the eyes are really
four, two,
and two
(fig.
In those species
170).
with low heads, like Dolomedes, the upper row of eyes
curved and
much
smaller,
is
less
and the whole arrangement resembles
The body is
abdomen about as long and
that in Tibellus and others of the Thomisidse.
usually long and the head high, the
as wide as the cephalothorax
Our
largest
spiders
and as thick as
it
belong to this family.
is
wide.
The females
carry their eggs in round cocoons attached to their spinnerets,
67
THE COMMON SPIDERS
68
and the young for a short time after coming out are carried
Dolomedes and Ocyale
about on the back of the mother.
carry their cocoons in the mandibles and spin a loose
web
in
bushes, where the young live for a time after leaving the cocoon.
most species pass the winter half grown and
mature the next summer. Most of the little spiders seen
spinning their threads on the tops of plants and fences in the
The young
Indian
Most
of
summer
are
of these
Pardosa, the
first
young Lycosidae.
spiders belong to
two genera, Lycosa and
including the larger species, with the eyes
covering only a small part of the front of the head and the
front
row about the same length as the second
the other,
;
Pardosa, consisting of comparatively small species, with the
four upper eyes very large and covering the whole top of the
head and the front row much shorter than the second.
THE GENUS LYCOSA
The genus Lycosa
includes spiders that differ greatly in the
In general, they
proportions of different parts of their bodies.
compared
are large and stout and their legs short
much
Pardosa and Dolomedes, the front legs being not
than the body.
(fig.
(fig.
in
longer
In the short and stout species, like pratcnsis
170), the eyes cover only a small part of the head, while in
the longer legged and more slender species,
is
to those of
181), they are larger
downward
those species with large eyes.
The
commimis
apart.
The head
in front,
but less so
and spread farther
highest behind and rounded
like
spines of the legs are
comparatively small and on the two front pairs concealed by
the surrounding hairs.
feet
The
fine flattened hairs
sometimes form a thick brush on the under
up from the claws as far as the
shades of brown and gray.
tibia.
The
on the front
side,
extending
colors are
all
THE LYCOSID^
Lycosa
long
;
nidicola.
— When
grown three-quarters
full
the legs short, the longest an
color
69
of an inch
The
inch in length.
On
dull yellow or greenish brown.
is
the cephalothorax there
is
a narrow yellow
and one on each side
and on the front of the abdomen
stripe in the middle
166),
(fig.
the usual pointed stripe, dark at the edges
On
and bordered by lighter bands.
hinder half of
The
cross marks.
abdomen
the
and the spines short and hardly
The under side of the abdomen
ings,
167)
(fig.
is
at
visible.
middle
light in the
and darker
mark-
are without
legs
the
are indistinct
the sides
and marked with small
brown spots.
The
Figs. i66, 167.
nidicola.
enlarged
Lycosa
— 166, female
twice.
males
and
young are lighter
and more plainly
marked than the
adult female s.
167,
under side of abdomen.
This spider
lives
under stones and other shelters
in a
shallow nest, lined with
female
be found with her cocoon of
in
Ihe
— A
light
111
cephalothorax
as wide as
-
1
small species, four-
and dark markings.
1
Lycosa
70.
pratensis.
e n
•
1
11
1-
1
1
1
has a middle light band
the eyes, narrowed a
little
—
female
168,
an inch long, yellowish brown,
with indistinct
_,,
Figs. 168, 169,
the summer.
Lycosa pratensis.
fifths to half
the woods
where the
168
may
eggs early
in
silk,
1
three
a
r
ged
times.
169, side of cephalothorax.
17O)
front
of
head
and
mandibles.
in
front of the dorsal groove and broken in the middle by two
brown spots
(fig.
168).
The
sides of the cephalothorax near
THE COMMON SPIDERS
70
the edge are faintly lighter than the
The abdomen has
rest.
a pointed middle stripe, dark at the edges, extending back half
its
The
length, and behind this four or five dark cross stripes.
legs are darker toward the ends
;
the femora are
marked with
two broken dark bands, and the patella and tibia of the third
and fourth legs have faint dark rings. The spines are small
and, on the two front pairs of legs, hardly visible among the
other hairs. The under side is light colored, with
The epigynum
the ends of the legs darker.
The males
short and wide.
differ little
This does not seem to be a
females.
very active spider and
under stones.
Lycosa
polita.
^I'-^-*,.!
a short-legged
size
in
and
hairs
color
are very
*?/\
short and often entirely absent from the
t^^'l
cephalothorax, which
^*|-'ili'C«
The
i'^g-
which
Fig. 171.
Ly-
TOW
is
(fig.
is
smooth and
shin-
eyes are very close together,
two
especially the
f
H
is
The
Lycosa pratensis.
/fY
commonly found
is
— This
resembling
species
is
from the
much
of
the middle row,
shorter than the front
The ccphalothorax and
i/i).
brown without any
some individuals there
are irregular dark marks along the sides
of the thorax and broken rings on the legs.
The abdomen is
gray, light in the middle, with dark transverse marks behind
U
^^^^,
P°''^^'
three times,
legs are often light
markings, but
and closely placed dark spots
medicinalis and
in
much
The abdomen
at the sides,
Amaurobius.
as in Tegenaria
is
light
under-
neath, with a darker middle line and irregular oblique rows
of spots at the sides.
Lycosa nidifex.
— This
spider
lives
in
sandy regions,
— the
females in holes ten or twelve inches deep, the adult males
1
THE
on the surface
of the
LYCOSID.-E
ground.
The males
five-eighths of an inch long and spread
colored like the sand,
—a
little
7
(fig.
174) are half or
in
Fig. 172.
the
There
is
a
middle of the abdomen edged with black and
Mouth
it
are
redder sometimes in the middle
spots and on the femora, and gray at the sides.
spot
They
two inches.
of hole of
Lycosa nidifex
in sand,
ran out from the hole and back again.
and footprints
of the spider
One-third the real
where
size.
a black band on each side of the head divided in front, the
branches extending to the lateral eyes of both rows.
ends of the palpi and the spinnerets are black.
The
The mandibles
are black, except in the middle, where they are covered with
bright yellow hairs.
On
pairs of legs, sternum,
the under side
and mouth
(fig.
175) the two front
parts are black, the hinder
THE COMMON SPIDERS
legs
and abdomen
(fig.
173)
The
is
color
lighter
larger,
light sand color, like the back.
— three-quarters
more gray
is
behind, as
the
in
light gray
&
or
of an inch or
slate color,
in the middle,
band broken
a middle dark
in length.
darker in front and
The cephalothorax has a
and the abdomen
male.
band
The female
more
by three
at the sides
or four pairs of light spots.
The
two pairs
front
of legs are thicker than the others
and more
closely covered with hair in both sexes.
In August the males wander about on
Though
the sand and are easily caught.
their color
marks
more
is
of the
much
like
the sand, the
back and legs make them
easily seen than L. cinerea
and other sand spiders.
177)
live
holes three-quarters of an inch wide
in
and ten inches or more deep.
is
(fig.
The females
held together by
silk,
The sand
which
is
very
thin below but thicker toward the opening.
Sometimes
bits of sticks
and straw
are fastened around the hole, but as often
Fig. 173.
Lycosa
fex.
nidi-
— Fe-
male en1
a
r
g
e
d
twice.
come
it is entirely clean and not concealed in
any way. The females keep near their
holes and drop into them at the least
fright.
As one walks across the neighborhood no spiders are to be seen, only
open holes.
After a short time they
to the surface, at first slowly, but
sometimes, as they see
the place clear, with a sudden jump, and stand over the hole
ready to drop back into
it.
The
color of the females
the
abdomen
are larger and
thorax and front legs
is
is
more
The markings of
more distinct, but the black on the
less marked than in the males.
gray or slate color than that of the males.
THE LYCOSID^
— This
is
one of the largest spiders living
northern states, and
it
resembles in size and color the
Lycosa carolinensis.
in the
famous Tarantula of southern
female is sometimes over an
Europe
|i|j
inch
fourth legs an inch and a half
three
The
inches.
V\
inch.
brown,
like the fur of a
males
with
length,
it
The
the
spreads over
males have the legs as
measuring
The color is
smaller,
in
175).
(fig.
long, so that
long but more slen-
the
73
"V;^
^^^^
^X
f\\\
and
the
body
is
thr(
th''^^-qu^rters
of an
S^^y mixed with
mouse,
than
lighter
der,
n^
Uftik
the
:he
VV\A(C1\
,1
females.
On
the under side the whole
body is black, including the
first and second joints
of the legs and the
The
legs
gray,
with
maxillae.
are light
dark bands
ends of the
/^
at the
The man-
joints.
dibles are brown, with orange-
yellow
There
hairs
is
on
the
front.
sometimes a
yellow on the ends of the
little
first
and second legs and palpi of
figs. 174,175. Lycosa
nidifex.-
the male.
male.
The female makes
a hole,
male.
.^^^
back of
175, under side of
Both enlarged
174,
'
but not a deep one, and hides
in
it
with her eggs, but
is
often found running
about on the ground.
Lycosa cinerea.
and sandy
The
— A common spider on beaches
fields all
general color
is
over this country and in Europe
(fig.
dirty white covered with small black
177)
and
THE COMMON SPIOERS
74
gray marks, so that, when
i\
lies
it
can hardly be distinguished from
on the sand,
flat
The body
it.
is
it
half
an inch long, and the fourth legs nearly
The under
an inch.
side
is
white or gray,
and the whole body covered with white
and gray
hairs.
The
On
joint.
marked with
legs are
two or three to each
indistinct dark rings,
the cephalothorax the spots
radiate irregularly from the dorsal groove
the space between the eyes
is
the mandibles are dark brown.
ings of
up
Fir.. 176.
nensis.
Lycosa
the abdomen
are broken
is little
female to show the black
markings.
The mark;
into small spots, so that there
caroli-
— Under side of
;
dark, and
of the usual fig-ures.
The
male paipi are
long and slender
and the ends very small.
Lycosa
kochii.
common
a
is
species in the woods,
colored brown and gray,
and
is
like
dead leaves
is
— This
179).
It
half an inch long when
full
grown, and
the
(fig.
fourth
quarters of an inch.
are larger than
legs
three-
The upper
half the width of the head, as in
cephalothorax
eyes
m pratensis and nidicola, and cover
is
light
gray
in
communis.
The
the middle and dark
the sides and around the front of the head.
at
The
legs are gray, lighter toward the
body and
darker toward the ends, marked with indistinct
rings,
two or three to each
joint.
•'
The abdomen
_
is
gray, with broken darker gray markings form-
mg
^,
T
r
indistmctly a row of transverse marks
.
•
.
1
m
•
1
the
^^'''^-
7'"- ''^-
cosacmerea.
female
four times.
maxiiia;.
^y-
— 177,
enlarged
178,
—
THE LYCOSID^
The
middle.
sides
75
are darkest toward the front
The under
end, where there are two black spots.
side
lighter than
is
1
the
The epigynum
back.
80) differs from that of the related species,
having the middle lobe narrow in front and
wide and triangular
Lycosa communis.
at the end.
— This
is
a
common
spider
in pastures, running in grass or hiding under
It varies in
stones.
color from light gray to
almost black, but the markings are almost
always the same and distinct.
there
is
On
the thorax
a middle stripe ex-
tending forward to the eyes,
and a narrower one between
the eyes to the front of the
head
(fig.
At the
181).
sides
are light
stripes
nearly
as wide as the
middle one
Figs. 179, 180.
kochii.
— 1/9,
extending
female
enlarged twice.
iSo,
under the eyes
epigynum.
to the front of
the head.
On
the
front pointed stripe
abdomen the
large. The
is
light stripes at the side of
wide and
distinct, uniting
it
are
on the
hinder half of the abdomen into
;.
a
middle
stripe,
broken
some-
times into a row of four or
spots.
light
five
In dark individuals this
marking
is
yellow and more
Ly-
181. 182.
cosa communis.
181,
female
en-
larged three times.
182, front of
showing eyes
head
THE COMMON SPIDERS
76
On
Strongly defined than in lighter ones.
in
the thorax, especially
there are usually two or three light
light colored-spiders,
marks radiating from the dorsal groove. The legs, except the
ends of the first and second, are marked with rings at the ends
and middle of the joints, indistinct in light spiders and brighter
in
dark ones.
The length
The
two-fifths to half an inch.
is
legs are long,
The second
the fourth pair three-quarters of an inch in length.
row
of eyes
is
a little wider than the
first,
and the second eyes
are large and their diameter apart
On
under side
the
of the
dark stripes meeting
(fig.
abdomen
are
182).
two
at the spinnerets so as to
form a horseshoe-shaped
figure, but in
some very
dark individuals the whole under side of the
abdomen behind the epigynum
There
dark colored.
is
between the sexes.
The females carry eggs in June and July.
Lycosa scutulata.
This is a large and wellmarked species, over half an inch in length and
is
difference
little
—
with hind legs over an inch long
Fig. 1S3.
183).
(fig.
Lycosa
scutulata. — Fe-
male enlarged
twice.
The
The cephalothorax
legs are yellowish gray without markings.
is
dark gray, with a light
middle stripe and one on each side extending
There
under the eyes to the front of the head.
narrow
light line
on the edge of the thorax
the middle of the
abdomen
is
at
is
also
the sides.
a
In
a dark stripe, with five or six
pairs of light spots, those of the front pair being only partly
inclosed
by the
stripe.
are narrower light
dark oblique
lines.
bands,
On
At
the sides of the middle stripe
and beyond these
fine
and
body is
light
the under side the whole
light gray.
In the males the front legs are
darker colored than the others.
a little longer
The male
and much
palpi are slender.
THE LYCOSID^
and the
eyes
is
77
The second row
tarsi small for so large a spider.
a
— The female may
Lycosa ocreata.
L. kocJiii
of
wider than the front row.
little
179) or couwiiinis
(fig.
easily be
(fig.
mistaken for young
181), but the
male
is
con-
spicuous on account of the dark
head and front legs and espethe
cially
covering of
thick
black hairs on the
has
a
stripe,
in
tibiae of
the
The cephalothorax
first pair.
distinct
\
middle
light
narrower and straighter
the male
The middle
184,
(figs.
185).
abdomen
of the
is
yellow, with the pointed stripe
only a
little
darker and marked
At
with black spots around the edges.
the sides the
in spots,
and
abdomen
in the
is
brown, broken
middle of the hinder
The
half are three or four cross marks.
legs are yellowish and ringed with gray
in the females.
and the sides
In the males the femora
of
the thorax are
darker brown, and the
tibiae of
pair dark
and thickly covered with
The male
palpi
thickened and
The
front
sexes.
much
the front
hairs.
have the patella and
tibia
Figs. 1S4, 1S5. Ljxosa ocreata.
184, female enlarged eight
times.
1S5, cephalothorax
and front legs of male.
—
about as wide as long.
legs are plainly thicker
The second row
length of either sex
is
a
of eyes
little
is
than the second
wider than the
leg
is
about half an inch.
both
The
The legs
The longest
over quarter of an inch.
are slender and thinly covered with long fine hairs.
in
first.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
78
THE GENUS PARDOSA
of comparatively
them long legged and
iists
Df
lead
high in front, and
is
upper eyes large
;he four
pread over the whole front
head
c
runt
(fig.
row
than
horter
ow.
The
The
200).
of eyes
is
the
plainly
second
colors are gener-
dark, often
black, and with
ally
white markings.
The spines of the
legs are long, even
on the front
pairs,
and the whole body
often covered
is
To
with long hairs.
show the comparative size of the dif-
^86
ferent species of this genus,
the figures
Ficis. i86, 187, 188.
lapidicina.
larged four times.
side
of
same
Pardosa
— 186, female en-
real
scale,
of
lapidicina.
an inch
pair
The color is
with black
black, the whole
(fig.
long
three-quarters of
legs, the fourth
ings
When
J
the
— Four
-fifths
and with long
an inch
long,
body being covered
hairs that obscure the
186).
times
all
the
size.
Pardosa
iSS, epigvniim.
made on
four
187,
cephalothorax.
being wet, the
are
few
light
mark-
looked at closely, especially after
legs appear a little lighter colored toward
THE LYCOSID^
79
the ends, and the femora faintly marked with light rhigs.
the middle of the cephalothorax there
In
a large light spot,
is
widest just in front of the dorsal groove, and at the sides are
rows of irregular
On
light spots.
spots
four pairs of light
the abdomen are three or
near together
in
the front half, and behind are two rows of
On
spots meeting over the spinnerets.
under side the color
on the back.
The
color,
varies according to age, the
as in
in the figure
in shape.
(fig.
It
grecnlandica
is
is
189), for
(fig.
from the female.
quite constant
which
The male
This spider
in the hottest
from Connecticut
most
among
lives
and driest places
to Labrador.
species resembles lapidicina
little
is
it
differs little
Pardosa albomaculata or greenlandica.
a
shown
distinguishes this species from
likely to be mistaken.
gray stones
and
while
color,
The epigynum
i88),
spiders,
all
young and freshly
molted having a deeper black
older ones are gray.
the
a lighter gray than
is
(fig.
— This
186), but
is
larger and not quite as long legged.
marked with bright
white spots on a black ground.
There are
two rows of white spots on the abdomen, and
It
has longer hairs and
is
190
others along the sides of the cephalothorax
and on the legs
it
(fig.
189).
Wet
in
alcohol
shows similar irregular markings on the
abdomen
as lapidicina,
Pardosa
greenlandica.
1S9,
female enlarged four
times.
190, epigynum.
Figs. 189, 190.
—
but the light spots
on the thorax are smaller, the middle one extending forward
only to the dorsal groove.
and
distinct.
Its
The epigynum
outline has been
(fig.
compared
190)
to
is
large
that of
a
decanter, narrow in front and rounded out at the sides behind.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
8o
There
is
a long narrow middle lobe, generally
end, but varying
num
much
At
in shape.
are two small depressions.
of glacialis
(fig.
widened
at the
the front end of the epigy-
resembles the epigynum
It
192), but
always longer and
is
narrower and has the middle lobe straighter and
more
White Mountains, on bare
Rocky Mountains, Canada, and
distinct.
stones.
Greenland.
Pardosa glacialis or brunnea.
of
some
— One-third
Color dark brown with
an inch long.
light markings.
In the mid-
dle of the cephalothorax
stripe,
is
a light
widening and fading out
toward the eyes and divided by a
dark middle
line,
widest in front
and extending back as
dorsal groove
side
is
a
(fig.
light
far as the
On
191).
stripe
each
extending
under the eyes to the front of the
head.
— 191, female
n'^
enlarged
four
times.
192,
epigy-
times there are four or
and some-
pairs of small
In
alcohol there are obscure cross markings and
black spots.
dinal dark
is
five
the mid-
spots of white hairs on the hinder half.
num.
there
The abdomen has
dle pointed stripe light colored,
Figs. 191, 192.
Pardosa glacialis.
The
and
legs are
light lines.
marked with
On
longitu-
the under side
usually a light middle stripe on the front of the sternum,
and the middle
whole body
is
of the
hairy
;
abdomen
is
lighter than the rest.
The
there are long black hairs on the front of
the head, and the spines are long and colored like the legs.
The
epigynum (fig. 192) has a narrow middle lobe transparent at
the end so that it is difficult to see, and dark brown pieces
at the sides,
with the outer ends turned forward.
The shape
THE LYCOSID/E
can best be understood from the
8i
The epigynum
figure.
but distinguishes this species plainly ixovcv greenlandica
with which
and black
palpi are large
the
ends,
190),
likely to
The male
be associated.
at
(fig.
is
it
varies,
the
tarsus
oval and pointed, and the
tibia short
Figs. 193, 194, 195, 196.
Pardosa tachypoda.
193, female enlarged
—
four times.
long.
This spider
194, ceph-
alothorax and palpus
of male.
195, epigynum. 196, palpus
of male.
is
common
and as thick as
has been
found all
over Canada and
in the
as far north as Green
White Mountains and h
found as far south as Connecticut.
Pardosa tachypoda or montana.
— This
is
Canadian and White Mountain spider foun
as far south as Massachusetts
is
(fig.
193).
It
smaller than either s^reenlandica ox glacialis
^^^^- '97, 198, 199, 200,
Pardosa
201.
and larger than
The
are
colors
species, but the
,.
.
,
.
and
7iigropalpis
more
the
like
legs are darker
,
distmctly rmged.
,^,
The
,.
albopatella.
,
light
last two
and more
,
.
markmgs
J.
of
pallida.
—197, female enlarged
^£""tZ
199,
'""Z'Tt
side
01 female.
back of
male.
200,
front
of head.
201,
end
palpus of male.
of
THE COMMON SPIDERS
abdomen are less distinct and more
The epigynum (fig. 195) has a character-
the cephalothorax and
broken and irregular.
istic
shape different from any of the
allied
two
species, the
anterior depressions being wide apart and the middle ridge
narrow and rounded
at the end.
The male
palpi
(fig.
196) are
rather slender, as in lapidicina, and uniformly colored, and
the differences between the
than
in Jiigropalpis
all
sexes are less strongly marked
and albo- \ patella.
Pardosa pallida.
— One-fifth
of an inch long
and brightly
marked with black
and brown on a light
yellow ground
197,
cephalothorax
rower than
(figs.
The
199).
in
is
nar-
most
The cephalothorax has two
wide gray stripes
species.
and a
fine
black line
on the edge
at
The abdomen
has the middle
each
side.
pointed stripe light brown
with a broken black edge.
On
each side
made up
is
a black band,
of spots closer
toward
the middle and more scattered
toward the
sides.
The
spots near the body.
not dark colored.
On
legs are light yellow, with a
The
few black
spines of the legs are long but
the under side there are dark spots on
the sternum near the base of each leg, and sometimes two rows
of spots or
of
the
two bands nearer the middle.
abdomen
On
the under side
are two black stripes, sometimes connected
THE LYCOSID^
In the males
behind.
dark markings
(fig.
199) the colors are darker and the
The ends
larger.
83
and
of the palpi are large
covered with black hairs.
In
one freshly molted young male there was hardly any
The male palpi were dark
trace of the spots on the sternum.
black
gray with
except
hairs,
the
which was
tarsus,
light
colored, with a dark spot
in
the middle and a few
black
The
hairs.
markings
of the
abdomen were very
indi
tinct, and the light color
brownish, while the thorax and legs are slightly
The
green.
first
femora were black
toward the end.
Pardosa
nigropalpis.
About quarter
long.
of
—
an inch
Black and gray.
The male with head and
palpi black
(fig.
203).
In the
female the cephalothorax has a large light middle stripe,
widest between the eyes and the dorsal groove, and a narrow
light stripe
on each side
the middle for
its
(fig.
202).
whole length
in
divided by faint cross lines of gray.
spotted with black.
The
The abdomen
is
light in
an irregular stripe partly
The
legs are faintly
sides are darker
and
marked with darker
In the male the contrast between the light and dark
rings.
markings
is
greater, the
markings of the cephalothorax are
smaller and brighter, and the head and palpi are black and
covered with black hairs.
Pardosa albopatella.
bling
it
in
— Smaller
shape and color
than P. nigropalpis, but resem-
(figs.
205, 206).
The middle
stripe
THE COMMON SPIDERS
84
of the cephalothorax
abdomen
The middle
narrower.
is
narrower and brighter
is
stripe of the
the front end.
at
The
femora are distinctly marked with four rings, and the other
In the male the ends of the legs are pale,
joints less plainly.
without rings, and the rings of the femora are broken into spots
except on the front legs, where the femora are black.
palpi
The
tibia
dark, and the tarsus
is
toward the
shape of
dark
is
at the
base and white
tip.
Pirata piraticus.
grass in
The
206) have the femora black and the patella white.
(fig.
—A
-
small and active spider living in short
summer and under leaves in winter. The colors and
the body are much like Lycosa prateiisis (fig. 168), but
the legs are proportionally larger and longer, and the colors
The
brighter.
length
is
about a quarter of an inch.
front and second rows of eyes are of the
of the
second row large and their diameter apart
V
The eyes\
s
of the upper
row are nearly
and twice as
e c o n d, \\
f^',
yellow,
with
far
or
(fig.
209).
as large as those of the
The
apart.
gray
The
same length, those
black
color
is
pale
The
markings.
cephalothorax has a narrow light line in
the middle and one on each side
In the middle of the front of the
is
At the
the middle.
cus.
— 208,
"n
row
if
^""
female en
209,
'
behind
and outside
of
_
these are dark markings becoming smaller behind.
The
larged three
times.
of spots
sides of this are light
stripes
that unite behind,
^
n
208).
abdomen
a light stripe with dark edges, which
tapers into a line or
Figs. 208, 209.
Pirata pirati-
(fig.
legs have conspicuous dark spines, especially
the hinder pair, and are faintly marked with rings
front of head
or sometimes are without markings.
Dolomedes and Ocyale
other Lycosidae.
and the eyes
all
They
are
differ
more
more nearly
in
many
respects from the
flattened, have the
of the
same
size.
head lower,
The
front
row
THE LYCOSID^
and near together.
of eyes are small
85
The upper row
about
is
twice as long and strongly curved, and the eyes are nearly
equal in size and twice as large as those of the front row
In Dolomedes the lower eyes are
214, 216).
In Ocyale they
high as the top of the head.
farther apart, and the head resembles
(figs.
about half as
^
"%
are lower and
still
more Tibellus of the Thomisidae. Both Ocyale
and Dolomedes resemble this family in their flattened body and wide thorax.
Dolomedes sexpunctatus.
Dark
greenish gray or, in young
—
spiders, yellow,
with a silvery
white line each side the whole
length of the body, meeting
in
front under the eyes and reach-
ing back to the spinnerets
(fig.
middle of
the
In
210).
the
cephalothorax
On
line.
is
a narrow light
the hinder half of the
abdomen
are four pairs of small white spots, and
sometimes another pair near the front end.
On the under side the general color is
lighter,
and there are
the sternum
is
(fig.
211).
six
dark spots on
The cephalothorax
three-quarters as wide as long, but looks
Figs. 210, 211, 212. Dolomedes sexpunctatus.
210, female enlarged
—
twice.
narrower on account of the white
The abdomen
is
in tetiebrosus
(fig.
female
is
proportionally longer than
easily
on
of
211, under
cephalothora.x.
one of the
feet,
side
212,
showing
three claws.
213).
The
full-grown
six-tenths of an inch long, with a spread of an inch
and three-quarters.
are very
stripes.
common
it,
In winter and spring the half-grown young
everywhere.
It
lives
near water and runs
each foot making a depression on the surface with-
out becoming- wet.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
86
I
Figs.
213,
214.
Dolomedes tenebrosus.
female enlarged twice.
Figs. 215, 216.
enlarged twice.
Ocyale
— 213,
214, front of head.
undata.—
216, front of head.
215,
female
§//
THE LYCOSID^
Dolomedes tenebrosus.
spreading
its
one of our largest spiders,
is
legs over four inches.
The
dark gray.
— This
87
legs are indistinctly
The
is
light
and
marked with
light
and
color
dark rings and have long
dark spines
The thorax
is
213).
(fig.
dark
in the
middle and lighter toward
On
the eyes.
each side
are light bands that extend
around under the eyes and
meet
in front.
The
abdo-
men has three pairs
transverse
of
dark stripes,
each with a light border
The
on the hinder edge.
cephalothorax
is four-
tenths of an inch long and
three-tenths wide, half as
wide
in front,
straight
It is
rounded
dle,
but
and
just
is
and nearly
on the front edge.
nearly
not
in the
mid-
very high,
behind the eyes
flat.
The under
side of the thorax
and legs
colored,
without
is
light
markings, the abdomen a
Fig. 217.
Xest of the young of Ocyale undata
One-third the real size.
little
darker.
The abdomen
long as the thorax, widest across the middle, and a
behind.
The male has longer
strongly marked
bunch
;
legs and
is
little
The male
is
as
pointed
more slender and
under the fourth femora near the end
of stiff hairs.
in
a wild-rose bush.
is
a
palpi are long, with large tarsi
and palpal organs and a long hook on the outer side of the
tarsus.
They
live
near water, on the ground or low bushes.
;
THE COMMON SPIDERS
88
The female
bushes, in which the young live for
bunch
some time after hatching.
of silk in the
large
and makes a
carries her cocoon in her mandibles
Ocyale undata.
— When
full
grown over
thorax quarter of an inch, and the
first
half an inch long, the
and fourth legs an inch
The thorax is almost as wide as long, and the head not
much more than half as wide (fig. 215). The abdomen is long
and narrower than the thorax and a little pointed behind. The
long.
color
is
a light brownish yellow, with a wide darker
band on the middle
and browner
This band
both thorax and abdomen.
of
is
bordered by a white line a
in
and out toward the
spiders the color
the middle
is
stripe
little
lighter
curved
In younger
tail.
and yellower
has the edges more
undulating, and in very
young ones
it is
serrated or even broken up into spots.
The
legs, which are plain in adults, are
sometimes marked with rings in the
young. The front end of the stripe is
These
sometimes divided into two.
spiders live on bushes, without any web,
until
they have young.
part of
flat
summer
In
the latter
the females carry their
cocoons under them, holding on with
When
the mandibles.
the young are
about to hatch the female builds a
of
Oxyopes
Figs. 218, 219.
cus
us.— 218, female enlarged
salti
six
ix times. 219, front of head.
web
through,
217) three or four inches
(fig.
in
which she leaves the cocoon,
^^^ ^^g young COmC OUt and
of
salticus.
livC for a
•'
_
time together
Oxyopes
mass
— The
eyes are
in
in the
web.
three rows, the front one
two small eyes, the second of four eyes, and the upper of
The head is wide and less separated from the thorax
two.
THE LYCOSID.t
than
Lycosa and very high
in
two-thirds as wide
behind
as
The cephalothorax
in front.
male
of the
the cephalothorax, but that of the female
It
The
behind.
legs are slender, the
nearly of the
The
first
is
smaller than
wider and longer.
is
widest in the middle, rounded in
is
is
long and rounded both in front and
The abdomen
218).
(fig.
89
and pointed
front,
v
pair
longest, but
same length and with very
all
long spines.
colors and markings are very
The
variable.
legs are white
or
The
pale yellow, with black spines.
body are the same
brown and black markings.
There are usually four brown stripes on
light parts of the
with
color,
the cephalothorax from the eyes backward,
and two black
eyes
(fig.
down
abdomen
front
The most
219).
is
from the lower
lines in front
the
mandibles
the
of
constant
mark
of the
a pointed middle spot extending
as far as the middle of the back.
This
is
generally surrounded by light color, and at
the sides are narrow oblique brown marks.
There are sometimes fine black lines on the
under sides of the femora and a wide black
^_'.f:..f.^°:
viridans.
The
middle stripe under the abdomen.
males are sometimes colored like the female,
and vary from
of the
body
abdomen and
this to black
A
pale.
states in the early
very
common
^
Oxyopes
Young
female
enlarged
four
times.
palpi, with the rest
species in the southern
summer, running on low bushes.
There
is
another Oxyopes about the same size that has been found a
few times as
far north as
Oxyopes (Peucetia) viridans.
spider in the South.
It is
spots and black spines.
New
England.
— This
It
is
a
common and
conspicuous
a bright transparent green, with red
grows to a length
of three-quarters
THE COMMON SPIDERS
90
of
an inch, but
when
it
is
is
found
in great
numbers
only a quarter of this size
early in the
(fig.
220).
summer,
The head
is
narrower than in O. salticus, and the lateral eyes so high that
they appear to belong to the upper rather than the middle
The abdomen is the same width as the back part of the
row.
cephalothorax and tapers a
first
color
pair of legs
is
is
little
toward the spinnerets.
longest and the second next.
The
The
general
green, with the space between the eyes red, red spots
and black spines on the legs, and two rows of red spots on the
abdomen, sometimes united into a stripe, with pairs of white
spots surrounded by red.
THE AGALENID^
The
larger
cobwebs
Fig. 221.
Web
of barns
Agalenidas
that are so
of
and
are
Agalena nsevia
in
They resemble some
cellars.
marked
off
makers
of
the
flat
wide
the grass and in the corners
long grass, seen from above.
One-third the real
size.
of the Drassidce,
Anypha^na (pp. 1-14). The head is
by shallow grooves from the thorax, and
especially Agroeca and
large and
the
common on
91
THE COMMON SPIDERS
92
is
often contracted behind the eyes, so that
The mandibles
than in front.
much
it is
narrower there
are large and, in the females,
The arrangement of the
Drassidas.
The upper spin-
swelled at the base in front.
eyes differs
little
from that
the
in
nerets are longer than the others and have the terminal joint
Fig. 222.
The
Web m
.\u;,iJi-ii,i
spider stands in
its
ii.t
.
m m -Idu
nl,l^^,
usual place at the
uu the ^idc
mouth
ut
a
of its tube.
hill,
seen from the side.
Half the real
size.
narrowed toward the end, with the spinning tubes on the inner
side.
The feet have three claws, like the Lycosidae, and do
not have the brush of hairs
males and females differ
legs and smaller
Agalena
which
it
naevia.
abdomen and
— This spider
makes on
common
little in size,
grass,
in the Drassidas.
The
but the males have longer
large and complicated palpi.
known everywhere by its web,
among stones and weeds, and in
is
THE AGALENIDyE
93
(figs. 221, 222).
It varies greatly in size and color.
Large females may be three-quarters of an inch long, with legs
measuring an inch and a quarter, while others may be full grown
houses
In color some are pale yellow with gray
at half that size.
markings, and others reddish brown with the markings almost
Whatever the
black.
they
color,
are thickly covered with fine gray
The cephalothorax has two
hairs.
longitudinal gray stripes and a black
line along the
side
is
(fig.
edge on each
The head
223).
high and a
little
darker in front.
Both rows
of eyes
are strongly
curved, with the
middle eyes highest, so that
the mid-
dle eyes of the
lower row and the
lateral of the
row form
straight
224).
dibles
upper
a nearly
line
(fig.
The manare stout,
much swelled
in front, and
not
covered with hair.
Figs. 223, 224.
End
.
of palpus of
Agalena
male
Agalena
naevia.
naevia.
—
223, female en-
twice.
front of
larged
The abdomen
is
224,
gray or
head.
black at the sides and lighter brown in the
middle, with two rows of white or lightcolored spots.
The upper
spinnerets are more than twice as
long as the others, and the terminal joint
the basal.
The
legs are large
much
longer than
and long, the fourth pair almost
THE
94
COIvn^ON SPIDERS
The
twice as long as the body.
marked with dark
legs are
rings at the ends of the joints and lighter rings in the middle
femur and tibia.
On the under side the coxae are light
colored and the sternum dark, and there is a broad dark
middle band on the abdomen from the hinder legs to the spinof
The males
nerets.
legs and smaller
black
(fig.
tube
are as large as the females, with longer
coiled
one and
The web
225).
Fu;. 220.
The male
abdomen.
(fig.
a
222)
Newly made edge
half
is flat
of
arrangement
web
in
which the spider
and September
in a flat
hides.
of the adult
Agalena
naevia,
it
is
fastened, with a tube at
The eggs
are laid in
silk,
August
in some
often mixed with dirt.
spiders die before winter, and females are
The young hatch
often found dead on or near their cocoons.
in the
to
showing
cocoon, attached by one side
sheltered place and covered with
Most
under the tarsus
turns
and shaped according
of the threads.
the surrounding objects to which
one side
of
palpi have a very large
winter and leave the cocoon early
in
the spring, and
soon begin to build their webs among the short grass.
The
webs become more distinct when covered with dew, but,
though too transparent to be seen at other times, they remain
in the same places throughout the summer and are repaired
THE AGALENID/E
and enlarged as
the
spider
grows.
should be destroyed, the spider
is
95
If,
however, the
able in one day to
web
make
The
new one as large as the old, but thin and transparent.
web contains many long threads crossing it from one side
a
Fig. 227.
Web
Agalena naivia in a plant of golden-rod two
showing upper threads. One-fourth the real
of
feet
to
above the .ymuiid,
size.
the other and nearly parallel, and these are crossed in
all
The
directions by finer threads (fig. 226).
from the lower spinnerets, the upper pair being held up over
The fine threads are spun from the
the back, out of the way.
long threads are spun
upper spinnerets, which are swung from side
to
side as the
THE COMMON SPIDERS
96
spider
It
moves along.
There
nothing adhesive about the web.
is
may alight to rest
may have a good
Where
chance to run after them.
the web is made under plants or
serves merely as a clearing where insects
and
the
spider
rocks a great
number
upward from
carried
of threads are
help in stopping insects
they do
(See
p.
in
135.)
species
Linyphia.
— This
barns
in
227), as
(fig.
the webs of
Tegenaria derhamii.
mon
which may
it,
is
and
a comcellars,
and has probably been imported from
Europe, where it is even more com-
The head
mon.
is
as in T. mcdicinalis.
are
swelled
less
in
high and wide,
The mandibles
front
and the
eyes are closer together than
species,
in that
and cover more than
the width of the head
cephalothorax
is
(fig.
half
The
229).
shorter and
wider
across the hinder half and the abdo-
men
shorter than in viedicinalis, and
the legs are longer and more hairy.
The
of
colors are lighter and the hairs
female
Figs. 228, 229. Tegenaria derhamii.
228, female enlarged four
—
times.
229, front of head.
a middle row more or
front
(fig.
of
228).
whole
the
is
The
body longer.
two-fifths of an inch long.
The cephalothorax is pale, with two
gray stripes. The abdomen is marked
with a series of gray spots, formed of
less
connected with two side rows
;
the
abdomen often pale, with the markings faint
The legs are long, the first and fourth pairs nearly
the
THE AGALENID^
twice the length of the body.
They
are
97
marked with
faint
rings at the ends and two in the middle of each joint.
palpi are long and slender in
gray
The
both sexes, and those of the
tibia of
about the same length and
each nearly twice as long as wide.
There are no processes on
male have the patella and
the patella, but two small teeth on the tibia near
tarsus
is
Web
Fig. 230.
The webs
ings,
its
end.
The
small and narrow, not as long as the patella and tibia.
are
made
of Tegenaria derhamii in corner of cellar.
in all parts of cellars
sometimes forming a shelf
in
and unswept
as flat as those of A. ncEvia, but with a similar tube on the
sheltered side
beams and
(fig.
floors,
230).
build-
the corner, not as large or
The webs more
most
often spread under
fastened up by threads at the sides and edges,
and, as they gather dust,
hang down by
its
weight and become
THE COMMON SPIDERS
98
I'Kj. 231.
\\ cij
(ii
i L-guiiaiia
deihamii with spider
Old cocoons hanging
Fig. 232.
Web
of
in
month
of tulje.
at the left.
Tegenaria derhamii curving downward on each
side.
THE AGALENID/E
99
Old webs are repaired and extended until
The tube is
silk and dirt.
generally smaller and less funnel shaped where it enters the
torn and tangled.
they become as thick as cloth with
web than
The web
that of Agalena.
is
not as
as that of
flat
Agalena, curving usually down from the
tube and up
in front of
up abruptly
is
at
it,
often turning
Sometimes
the edge.
it
fastened up in the middle of the
front edge and curves
side
(fig.
downward each
232).
shows
Fig. 231
common form
in
web
a
of the
most
the corner of a cellar,
with the spider standing at the mouth
and the remains of egg
of the tube,
cocoons hung up
web was
at
least
the
at
left.
This
a year old, and the
front edge had just been extended with
and transparent
clear
while the
silk,
middle was black with coal dust.
Fig. 232
another web in the same
is
with the front edge fastened up
cellar,
to the boards above.
It
drawn
is
tightest in the middle and curves
down on each
/^
side.
Tegenaria (Caelotes) medicinalis.
gray
large
among
spider
living
It is half
233).
The head
and the eyes cover a
little
constricted
in
Figs. 233. 234.
Tegenaria medicina-
woods,
and under
an inch long, with
the legs of the female not
(fig.
the
in
rocks, in hollow trees,
loose bark.
233
—A
is
much
longer
lis.
— 233,
female
four
adult
enlarged
times.
cephalothorax
young female
show
234,
of
to
spots.
large and wide,
little
more than
front of
half its width.
It is
a
the legs and raised above the
thorax as far back as the dorsal groove.
The abdomen
of
THE COMMON SPIDERS
lOO
the females
The
is
large and oval, widest across the hinder half.
spinnerets are small, but plainly two-jointed, and the upper
The
pair longest.
general color
brown, covered with gray
is
light yellow
the cephalo-
hairs,
abdomen grayer, than
The cephalothorax has two indistinct
The abdomen is marked with a
gray stripes.
thorax browner, and the
the legs.
series of gray spots of irregular shape, smallest
toward the front and larger and darker toward
The
the end.
more
legs are faintly ringed with gray,
distinctly in the young.
The males are as large as
smaller abdomen and longer
the females, with
legs.
The
palpi
have the patella
and tibia short,
much
not
longer
than wide
The
235).
tella
Fig. 235.
male
Palpus of
(fig.
pa-
has a short
on the
process
Tegenaria outCr sidc near
medicinalis.
The
the end.
tibia is of
shown
is
complicated shape, as
in the figure.
tarsus
twice as long as the tibia and
patella
together,
narrow
tip.
is
The
with
The
a
long
palpal organ
large and complicated, with
a long
fine
tube that can
seen from above, where
it
be
curves
Figs. 236, 237. Two forms of epigynum
of Tegenaria medicinalis.
around the base of the tarsus.
The epigynum
ness
and color
varies in appearance according to the thickof
different
parts.
The two
figures
show
THE AGALENID^
common
varieties (figs. 236, 237).
lOI
This species and longitaisus
are both easily mistaken for Aniaurobius sylvestris and ferox,
which are
situations.
same size and color and live in the same
Amaurobius does not have the long upper spin-
of the
nerets like Tegenaria,
the
eyes are
lower on
the front of
the head, and there are larger light-colored markings on the
The young of Tegenaria vicdicinalis
front of the abdomen.
Fig. 23S. Web of Tegenaria medicinalis in a hollow of a rock, the front edge held up by
threads running across the hollow, and the mouth of the tube showing behind it.
are pale, with light gray markings, and the cephalothora.x
is
marked with spots radiating from the dorsal groove (fig. 234).
The web of this spider is not flat like that of Agalena, but
curved
in
various shapes according to the place where
it
is
an open level place near the nest, the web
spreads across it, but usually curves upward at the edges and
is fastened to surrounding stones and weeds.
Where the
built.
If
there
is
spider lives in the cracks of a wall or rock, the net spreads
THE COMMON SPIDERS
I02
along the surface of the rock, held away from
a short dis-
it
tance by threads fastened to projecting points on the stone
(figs.
239, 240).
This species
is
sometimes mistaken for the
longer legged and more hairy Tcgcnaria
makes
derJianiii (fig. 228), that
webs
in
barns and
similar
cellars.
Tegenaria (Caelotes) longitarsus.
— Smaller
than nicdicinalis ; about two-fifths of an
inch in length.
The head
and the mandibles
of the
is
very wide,
female more
swelled in front than in nicdicinalis, and
the eyes are smaller and cover less than
half the width of the
The
245).
head
(figs.
cephalothora.x
244,
darker
is
colored in front and does not have the
two longitudinal stripes seen
nalis
The
241).
(fig.
in mcdici-
are
legs
only
marked with gray in the middle
The abdomen is marked
with gray, in a series of dark and light
spots, as in other species, and of more
faintly
of the joints.
Fig. 239. Sections of webs of
Tegenaria and Agalena.
—
Agalena navia h, common form of Tegenaria der-
rt,
;
hamii, with the edge lower
than the tube c, Tegenaria,
with the edge higher than the
tube d, Tegenaria, with the
edge carried up a long the face
of a rock c, Tegenaria, with
the edge carried down as well
;
regular shape than in mcdicinalis.
.
epigynum
....
is
•
i
die bar covered with hair
forked at the hinder end
male
The
i
light colored, with a mid-
and
slightly
The
242).
way from the
(fig.
differs in the usual
;
female and has the palpi shorter than
;
^^"P"
The
mcdiciiialis.
patella has a short process
directly forward
(fig.
tarsus has a projcc-
on the outer side that points
243).
Tegenaria (Cicurina) complicata.
young
The
tion at the base that covers the tibia.
— A small
spider, resembling the
of the larger species of Tegenaria,
found usually under
THE AGALENID^
dead leaves
in
woods
246).
(fig.
It is
103
a fifth to a quarter of an
inch long, with the longest legs one and one-half times as long
The
as the body.
and
the
stout,
spines of the third and fourth legs are long
and there are long
abdomen. The
color
abdomen, which has
Fig. 240.
and both vary
large
and conspicuous
wide, and the tibia
where
it
is
all
the legs and
pale yellowish brown, lighter on the
gray markings.
The
sexes are
is
The
in size.
(figs.
much
palpi of the males are very
248, 249).
narrower
at the
The
patella
is
short and
end and wide toward the
has a short process on the outer side.
under side of the
that
on
Web of Tegenaria medicinalis, with the front edge carried up
along the face of a rock. See diagram (fig. 239, d).
alike,
base,
is
faint
fine hairs
tibia is a
On
the
long thin appendage of irregular shape
nearly as long as the tarsus.
The
tarsus itself
is
long
THE COMMON SPIDERS
I04
24S
247
249
—
Figs. 241, 242, 243, 244. 245. Tegenaria longitarsus.
241, back of female. 242, epigynum.
243, palpus of male seen from above.
244, head of Tegenaria medicinalis.
245, head
of Tegenaria longitarsus.
Figs. 246, 247, 24S, 249.
Tegenaria
247) epigynum.
complicata.
248, 249, male palpus.
— 246,
female
enlarged
four
times.
—
THE AGALENID^
105
and narrow, and the palpal organ large and complicated, with
a long fine tube that extends from the base along the outer
back to the hard appendages
side and
epigynum
in
the middle.
The
247) has a small, transverse, oval opening at
(fig.
the hinder end, in front of which the coils of long tubes can be
seen through the skin.
New
England Agalenidre PI. VII, fig. 2 is the epigynum
and not of Ccslotcs longitarsiis.
Hahnia bimaculata.
The Hahnias resemble Tegenaria, but are
much smaller and have the spinnerets extended in a line across
men (fig. 251). HaJinia bimathe under side of the abdoIn
of this species
—
ciilata is
Caelotes
an inch long, with the abdo-
about one-eighth of
men large and
(fig.
250).
cephalothorax
is
widest
oval,
behind, as
it
is
in
The
bright
orange brown, and the
legs and
abdomen
pale yellow-
fa
The
ish with gray markings.
legs are ringed with gray, the
longer joints having two
rings,
men
and the abdo-
has a pattern of
light yellow
and gray
spots.
The
are
long and
all
spinnerets
nearly straight
in
a
line, half as
Hahnia bimaculata.
Figs. 250, 251.
250, female enlarged twelve times.
long as the width of the
abdomen.
The
under side showing the peculiar
arrangement of the spinnerets.
251,
outer
or
upper pair are half as long
as the
The
abdomen, and the two
tracheal opening
is
joints are nearly of equal length.
in the
middle of the abdomen, nearer
the epigynum than the spinnerets.
long, widest opposite the second legs.
The sternum is as wide as
The maxillae are straight
THE COMMON SPIDERS
io6
in front
and have a
is
where
some other species there
slight projection at the outer corners,
there are two or three
In
stiff hairs.
a longer process at these corners.
is common in winter under stones and under
summer it makes webs close to the ground, among
This spider
leaves.
In
short and thin grass and moss.
Hahnia
long;
The
cinerea.
much
color
— About
a twelfth of an
smaller than bimaculata
is
inch
251).
dark gray, the cephalothorax and
legs brownish, and the legs a
ends of the
(fig.
joints.
lighter at the
little
The abdomen has a row of
The spin-
angular light spots in the middle.
2-2.
Hahnia
cinerea,
enlarged
FiG
^ercts are in not quite as straight a line as in
Mmacuhita, the outer pair being a
little
higher
sixteen times.
and farther behind the next.
ing
is
tracheal open-
not as far forward as in bimaculata, being nearer the
spinnerets
than
the epigynum.
appendages of patella and
tibia
and softer and more curved.
and
The
leaves.
The male
palpi
have the
longer than in bimaculata,
They
are found
under stones
THE THERIDID/E
The
Therididae are the builders of the loose and apparently
irregular
among
webs in the upper corners of rooms, in fences and
and between the leaves and branches of low trees
rocks,
a^
Fig. 253.
Webs
of Theridiuni in a fog,
These webs are too
on the tops
fine to
of burnt bushes.
Half the real
be noticed in dry weather.
107
size.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
io8
They are generally small, soft, and light-colored
spiders, with the abdomen large and round and the legs slender
and usually without spines. The eyes are all about the same
and bushes.
size
and
in
two rows across the front
of the head, with the
two rows near together and often touching
The mandibles are weak and without teeth at
each other.
The maxillae are pointed at the end and turned
the end.
lateral eyes of the
Fig. 254.
Webs
of
Theridium
in a fog,
One-third the real
Most
inward toward each other.
on the tops of golden-rod.
size.
of the Therididae live
always
back downward. The webs
have in some part a more closely woven place under which the
spider stands, sometimes in the middle of the web, sometimes in
in their webs,
hanging by their
a corner out of sight.
is
without other shelter,
Where
it
or sand carried into the
is
feet,
the spider's usual standing place
often concealed by pieces of leaves
web by
the spider, and sometimes
THE THERIDID.^
made
loosely
into
a
made
The
tent.
in large
outer part
meshes, but
is
109
the
of
web
sometimes
is
usually
in a distinct
sheet spreading from the nest and held out by threads in
directions.
The cocoons are round and
web, several being made
Fig. 255.
Web
of
in
the
soft
and hang
same season by one
Theridium tepidariorum
Half the real
in a
in
all
the
spider.
dark corner.
size.
Several of this family, like Spintharus and Euryopis, have
the
abdomen smaller and
flatter
than usual and the fourth legs
longer, so that they are better fitted for walking.
found on plants, and
little is
known about
their webs.
They
are
THE COMMON SPIDERS
no
THE GENUS THERIDIUM
The
Thericliums are small soft-bodied spiders, making large
and loose webs without any large
slightly closer portion
connected with the web.
and nipicola
large loose webs, in which
Fig. 256.
Web of
They have
(fig.
little
all
but only a
among
(fig.
rocks,
258)
making
the spider often stands without
abdomen high
the
in a corner of
a
front
in
trellis.
A
little less
and
than
spider stood in the close part near the middle.
toward the spinnerets.
262) has the
species are
The
silk,
TJieridium tcpidariorum
young Theridium tepidariorum
the real size.
tapering a
sheet of
261) live in houses or
(fig.
any covering.
flat
where the spider stands, or a nest or tent
abdomen
of
Theridiinn globosum
The other
abdomen round and brightly
the same shape.
small and have the
THE THERIDID^
colored.
make
They
live in
more open places on
I I I
plants,
where they
nests in which they are partly hidden, and carry their
webs over the neighboring leaves and twigs
(figs.
253, 254).
THE COMMON SPIDERS
112
The male
length of the body.
longer legs.
The
259)
(fig.
is
shorter and has
color varies from dirty white to almost black.
The cephalothorax
yellow brown, and the legs light yellow,
is
with brown or gray rings at the ends and the middle of the
joints.
In the males the legs are orange brown, darker at the
ends of the
The abdomen
joints.
is
high
and narrows
in front
toward the spinnerets.
In dark
and well-marked specimens the
has, on the hinder part,
abdomen
six transverse
black marks curved
upward, thicker in the middle, and
partly connected by black spots
the ends (fig. 260).
These
marks are most sharply defined
on the hinder edge, where they are
bordered by silver white. The upper
mark often forms a conspicuous black
at
and white spot
abdomen.
the center of the
in
In light individuals
markings are smaller and
It
Figs. 258, 259, 260.
rhendiumtepidariorum,
male.
260,
makes
Qf rooms,
web
a large
in the corners
Under furniture, and
male
in
the
abdomen
angles of fences and between stones
of
It
usually stands in the
female seen from
(fig.
behind.
most sheltered part
255).
a part of
it is
more
of the web,
closely
the rest, but not enough so to conceal the spider.
makes the web
above, and then
the
258, fe259,
260
ally
all
less definite.
it
in
an open place where there
sometimes carries a piece
where
woven than
It
is
occasion-
no shelter
of leaf into the
web and hides under it, as is the usual habit with some allied
species.
The webs of the young are usually more regular in
form than those
of adults (figs. 256, 257).
often occupy the
same web
A
for a long time.
male and female
The eggs
are
THE THERIDID.^
113
laid in
brownish pear-shaped cocoons,
in the
same season by one spider and hang
species
is
found
— This resembles
easily mistaken for the
grow
which are made
This
in the web.
over the world.
all
Theridium rupicola.
is
sev'eral of
young
closely tcpidariornni
of that species.
It
and
does not
larger than an eighth of an inch
The
long.
colors are like tcpidarioTiim,
usually dark gray with black spots, the
back
abdomen sometimes almost
The legs are distinctly ringed
of the
white.
with light and dark.
the
abdomen
is
In the middle of
a pointed hump, the
front part generally black and the hinder
part white
It
(fig.
under stones
lives
rocks,
in
Fig. 261. Theiidium nipicola,
enlarged eight times.
261).
webs
like
and
amon<r
those of tcpidariormn, often containing
grains of sand which look as
as sand falling into such
placed there by the spider,
if
web would go through without
a
sticking to the threads.
Theridium globosum.
abdomen
— This
another species with a high
is
like tepidariovum.
It is
about a twelfth of an inch
long and almost as high
abdomen
pointed
is
a
little
toward
hinder part
is
(fig.
262).
The
flattened behind and
the
spinnerets.
The
white, with a large black
spot in the middle, below which
is
some-
times a smaller black spot.
Sometimes
there
is
around the
light
area.
262.
Theridium globosum, enlarged eight
Fig.
a bright white line
The
front
upper part of
times.
abdomen is yellowish gray, and the
The cephalothorax is orange brown,
between the eyes.
The legs are
the
under
except
part
a
brown.
black
orange brown.
spot
THE COMMON SPIDERS
114
Theridium
long,
differens.
— Female
and the male smaller.
about one-eighth of an
The abdomen
is
inch
round, and the
middle stripe often very brightly colored, with white or yellow
at the
Fig. 263.
edges and red
Web
abdomen
is
the stripe.
of
Theridium
in
the middle
(fig.
differens in the top of a
264).
young pine
The
tree.
rest of the
Half the real
size.
reddish brown, darkest next to the white edge of
There are no
In males the stripe on the
marks on the under side.
is obscure, and the whole
Sometimes, especially
265).
distinct
abdomen
abdomen dark reddish brown
(fig.
THE THERIDIDyE
115
young spiders, the abdomen is entirely yellow, with indistinct
brown markings. The cephalothorax is orange brown, often
in
darker in the middle, but with no distinct stripe.
The
legs
and
palpi are yellow in females and orange brown in males, slightly
darker at the ends of the
They
The epigynum has no open-
joints.
are on the inner
ings
in
sight.
side
in
the transverse fold across the
abdomen. The palpal organ (fig. 266)
has two appendages at the end, one hard
and roughened and the other soft. The
web is on low plants of all kinds, usually
two or three feet from the ground (fig.
There is sometimes a small tent,
263).
often hardly deep enough to cover the
from which the web spreads two
spider,
or three inches, according to the shape of
the
The cocoons
plant.
of
eggs are
white and nearly as large as the
and are attached in the nest.
murarium.
Theridium
— Length
one-eighth of an inch, with the
The
nearly spherical.
gray.
at the
The
spider,
about
abdomen
general color
is
legs are pale, with dark bands
end and middle of each
joint.
The
266
cephalothorax is pale, with a dark line in
-1
"in
"J
i.-L
the middle and one on each side, the
differens.
1
1
there
is
(fig.
267).
an undulated middle
stripe,
stripe the
abdomen
toward the
white
black stripe in
is
at
On
265,
male
the edges and the
both sides of this
nearly black and becomes gradually lighter
The sternum is pale, with
The under side
the middle.
sides.
female en-
enlarged eight times.
266,
end of palpus of male.
^^111
the abdomen
On
front end, and reddish in the middle.
— 264,
i.^ged eight times.
middle line sometimes divided into two
near the eyes
Theridium
Figs. 264, 265, 266.
a black edge and
of the
abdomen
THE COMMON SPIDERS
ii6
is
gray, with a long black spot in the middle and a smaller one
There is little difference in size or color
The epigynum (fig. 269) has two round
over the epigynum.
between the sexes.
The palpal organ
holes, wide apart, near the thickened edge.
(fig. 268) is shorter and simpler than it is in differeiis.
This is a round-bodied spider of the same
Theridium spirale.
—
and murarium. The cephalothorax is orange
brown above and below, with an indistinct dark stripe as wide
The abdomen has a
in front as the eyes and narrowed behind.
middle stripe like difsize as diffcrcns
fcrc7is,
nearly as wide
in front as
it is
in the
The
abdomen
middle (fig. 271),
rest of the
gray,
is
ward the
darkest
The
stripe.
sometimes with
pale,
to-
legs are
faint
gray
rings at the ends and middle of
each
the
FiGs. 267, 268, 269. Theridium murarium.
267, female enlarged eight times. 268,
end of palpus of male. 269, epigymim.
—
joint.
The middle stripe of
abdomen is sometimes red-
dish as in iHurariitin, but oftcncr
.
,
,
,
,
g^ay. With a dark spot near the
front end.
The males
(fig.
270)
have the same color and
markings as the female and are
sometimes more distinctly marked. The male palpi (fig. 272)
are very large, and the palpal organ has a long tube coiled on
the under and outer side.
(fig.
The openings
of
the epigynum
273) are about their diameter apart.
Theridium frondeum.
— White,
light yellow, or greenish white,
with black markings that are very variable
(fig.
274).
Usually
the cephalothorax has two fine black lines running back from
the eyes and uniting behind the dorsal groove, and black edges.
The
legs are usually darkened with
brown
at
the ends of the
THE THERIDIU/E
The abdomen
joints,
a
and has on the back
by brownish translucent
spaces, with two black spots
large and round,
is
band
undulated
li^ht
117
bordered
just
over
the
spinnerets.
Sometimes there are black
spots in the translucent
spaces, especially toward the
hinder end, and these
be
united
into
black stripes.
two
In
may
long
some
in-
dividuals of either sex the
black on the cephalothorax
forms a wide band
in
the
271
mM
Figs. 270, 271, 272, 273.
Theridiiim spirale.
270, male.
271, female. Both enlarged
—
eight times.
of
palpus
2/3'
272,
of
end
male.
epigynum.
middle, almost covering the back,
and a black stripe of similar width
extends backwards on the abdomen
Varieties
Theridium frondeum.—
of
marking,
enlarged
four times.
These black-
for half its length.
striped individuals have
markings.
Fig. 274.
all
The males have
the other variations of color and
all
the colors and spots brighter
The
and the legs longer than the females.
mandibles of the male are longer than those of
the female and have at the base, in front, a low
conical point.
This species
^
tains to
in July
is
and
is
found from the White Moun-
New
England it matures
found on bushes all summer.
Alabama.
In
^,
Fig. 275.
Thendium unimacuiat,
eight times."^^^
.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
ii8
Theridium unimaculatum.
and markings from
all
— This
little
the others, and
species differs in color
may almost always be
distinguished by the white abdomen, with a black spot in the
Fig. 276.
Web
of Steatoda borealis on the face of a conglomerate rock
from which a pebble has dropped out. Half the real size.
center of the back.
The females
in the cavity
are a twelfth of an inch long
and the males smaller. The cephalothorax is orange yellow,
with a black spot around the eyes, extending back in a point
as far as the dorsal groove, and there is also a fine black line
THE THERIDID^
The
along the edges.
and darker
in
legs are orange, lighter in the female
the male, with the
male much stouter.
119
The sternum
This spider makes a web,
first
is
and second
pairs in the
orange, with black edges.
among
like the other small species,
small leaves and winters under dead leaves on the e:round.
THE GENUS STEATODA
Steatoda has the legs shorter and stouter than Theridium,
The abdomen
It is
oval and often a
is
smooth and shining, the
some
species
is
is
and scattered so
thick and hard, and in
marked with hard
projections and depressions.
head
hairs being fine
The thorax
as to be hardly visible.
flattened on the back.
little
The
generally narrow, and the
front middle eyes are in several
species larger than the others and
farther forward and wider apart.
In other species
about the same
consist of a
all
size.
flat
the eyes are
The webs
sheet supported
and held down by threads.
Steatoda borealis.
— This
is
a dark
reddish-brown spider, quarter of fk
iGS. 277, 278, 279.
Steatoda borealis. — 277, fean inch long, living among stones
male. 278, male. Both enlarged
or in the corners of fences and
four times.
279, eyes.
window frames, generally well
concealed by its web or nest. The cephalothorax is orange
brown and covered with short stiff brown hairs. The head
one-third as wide as the thorax and a
little
is
higher, the eyes near
together, with the front middle pair projecting forward beyond
the mandibles
rings,
(fig.
279).
The
legs are brown, with faint darker
and are thickly covered with
hairs.
The abdomen
is
dark
THE COMMON SPIDERS
I20
chocolate brown, sometimes without any light marks on the
upper
side,
but usually there
a light line running around
is
the front half and another in the middle, extending back half the
length of the
The
On
abdomen and
usually broken into several spots.
four depressed spots on the
the under side there
The
sexes are
male
color, but the palpi of the
(fig.
cephalothorax, and the terminal joint
cated.
all
The web
consists of a
directions, but
structure
is
Steatoda
cephalothorax
is
much
side,
meeting
and
alike in size
278) are longer than the
is
very large and compli-
sheet, held out
flat
by threads
often so crowded into a corner that
is
hard to understand
guttata.
are distinctly marked.
on each
a light stripe
is
behind the spinnerets.
abdomen
— Only
(fig.
one-tenth
in
its
276).
of
an
inch
The
long.
high, with scattered hairs, at the base of each
of
which
is
a horny ridge.
The cephalothorax
is
dark brown, with the legs lighter and more yel-
The abdomen
low.
at the front end,
its
is
nearly spherical and hard
where there
is
abdomen
is
a ring around
Sometimes the
attachment to the thorax.
bright yellow or orange, without
markings on the back, but oftener
it
partly
is
brown, with two or three pairs of silvery white
Figs. 2S0, 281. steatoda guttata.
280,
female enlarged
—
eight
times.
head and eyes
281,
spots
(fig.
280).
The malcs and females are alike
.
in sizc
^
.;
color,
seasons and mature
— About
,
and the palpi of the males are
large,
as in borcalis.
t>
'
at all
Steatoda mannorata.
and
They
live under
J
in
stones
April and May.
a quarter of an inch long.
The
cephalothorax and legs yellowish brown. Cephalothorax smooth,
Legs covered with fine hair. The abdomen
is usually nearly covered by an oblong dark spot darkened at
the edges, where it is bordered by silvery white (fig. 283). The
middle is lighter, with a central dark stripe. In some individuals
the dark markings are broken up into four pairs of black spots
with a few hairs.
THE THERIDID^
121
(fig. 282).
The head is
wider and the eyes smaller and farther apart than in the other
species, and the front middle eyes are
partly connected with a middle line
the smallest.
males
The head
is
wider
in
284) than in females, and
{fig.
the mandibles larger.
stones and leaves at
under
lives
It
seasons and
all
occasionally on bushes.
Steatoda
grown,
is
— This,
corollata.
a
when full
than marmo-
larger
little
rata and darker colored, and the legs
The
are shorter and stouter.
thorax
is
dark brown, and
cephalo-
the
legs
lighter brown, with dark rings at the
ends of the
joints.
The abdomen
is
Figs. 2S2, 2S3, 284. Steatoda
marmorata.
282,283, markings of the abdomen of the
female enlarged twice. 284,
—
head of the male.
yellowish at the sides and has four or
yellow spots, or pairs of spots, along the middle
five irregular
brown oval patch which nearly covers the middle of
In young specimens the abdomen is lighter, with
the back.
of a dark
The
several pairs of dark spots.
are
all
nearly the same
size,
eyes
the front
middle pair slightly larger and farther
forward than the others.
It lives
under
stones, like the other species.
Steatoda triangulosa.
fifth
286
'^5
v-
a
Fig. 285.
— Back
Steatoda corollata.
of a small female
sleudcr than
,
„
1
is
a
an inch
_
enlarged four times.
Fig. 286.
Steatoda triangu-
—
female
he legs
are \longer
and more
^
.^^
long.
°
c-
— The
of an inch to a quarter of
losa.
Back of female enlarged four times.
r
•
.
^^^t
.
pair
in
the Other species, the
•
twlCC
aS
^i
i
i
i
loug aS the body.
The ccphalothorax
...
slightly
is
oraugc brown,
rough in females and with short
ridges at the base of the hairs in males.
,
The
front middle eyes
are not larger than the others and are not as far forward as in
THE COMMOxN SPIDERS
122
The
borealis.
legs are light yellow, with slightly darker rings
ends of the
at the
There are thickened brown spots
joints.
the base of the hairs
The abdomen
over the body.
all
is
at
light
broken into
brown stripes partly
spots and sometimes connected
together
286).
yellow, with two irregular
(fig.
as long as the
are small
the
at
The
femur
palpi of the male are
of the
second legs and
This spider
end.
lives
in
around
houses,
window frames
and similar
Fig. 287. Asagena
americana.
Back
of female enlarged
places, like bore-
—
The ^g^
ullS.
eight times.
cocoons
are
white and hang in the web.
— This
Asagena americana.
re-
sembles Steatoda, but the abdo-
men
is
longer and
more
the whole appearance
some
the
of
Steatoda,
with
is
its
it
usually
web under
like
Like
Drassidae.
is
and
flatter,
found
stones.
It
about a sixth of an inch long.
The cephalothorax
dark red-
is
dish brown, slightly rough in the
females and with sharp points
along the sides in the males.
The
m
brown and
the males have two rows of
legs are yellow
small teeth under each femur.
They
Figs. 288, 289, 290, 291. Latrodectus mac288, female enlarged twice.
tans.
289,
—
under side of abdomen.
abdomen
spots.
of
291,
back of
290,
young female with four red
markmgs
of
abdomen
of male.
are stout, as in Steatoda
marmoi'ata, and differ
and dark brown
in
little
color,
in
length.
The abdomen
is
oval
with two white spots across the
—
—
THE THERIDID^
middle
(fig.
The
287).
front of
the head
The eyes are
The males have
third as wide as the thorax.
all
about the same
size.
123
is
rounded and a
close together and
the cephalothorax
larger and rougher, but in size and color resemble the females.
Latrodectus
This
is
mactans.
the largest spider
of the family.
It is
some-
times half an inch long,
with the abdomen round
and the whole body black,
except a bright red spot
underneath and one or
more red spots over the
spinnerets and along the
middle of the back
289, 290).
(figs.
The spots turn
yellow or white in alcohol.
The cephalothorax
is
about as wide as long, and
the grooves between the
head and thorax are deep.
The
lateral eyes are
farther apart than usual in
this family.
the male are
The legs of
much larger
Figs. 292, 293, 294, 295. Argyrodes trigonum.
292, side of female enlarged eight times, the
dotted line showing the abdomen bent dovvn^vard.
293, tip of abdomen seen from above.
295, cephalothorax
294, top of cephalothorax.
of male.
than those of the female,
and each
joint
is
orange brown
The abdomen
ends.
of the
in the middle and black at the
male has a row of red and white spots
some females
and across the front end,
and along the sides four pairs of stripes, red in the middle
and white at the edges (fig. 291). The young of both sexes
are colored somewhat like the male and, when very small, have
in the
very
middle
little
line, as
black on them.
do,
The males vary much
in size,
some
THE COMMON SPIDERS
124
This spider
being only a quarter as large as the female.
makes its nest among loose stones, on plants, or in houses.
Around
that
its
hiding place
widens into a
flat
it
or
spins a large funnel-shaped tent
curved
sheet
of
web, closer in
texture toward the tube and more open toward the edges,
It is
spreading two or three feet over plants and stones.
found all over the United States, as far north as Massachusetts
and
New Hampshire
and south through Florida, the West
Indies,
and South America, as
as Chile.
It is
far
everywhere feared
and dangerous, prob-
as poisonous
ably on account of
and conspicuous
large size
its
colors, as there
is
no good reason for considering
it
more poisonous than other
Argyrodes trigonum.
—A
spiders.
little yel-
low triangular spider, with a high,
pointed
abdomen
Large
292).
(fig.
females measure an eighth of an
inch from the head to the spinnerets and nearly as
Web of
Argyrodes trigonum
In the
between two maple leaves.
middle of the web are two egg cocoons
and above them the spider.
Fig. 296.
,
^'^'^
LUe
soinnercts to
SpmnereiS
LO the
.
,
of the
tened and notched in the middle
(fig.
the part of the head around the eyes
tin
Lip
the
UlC
of
VL
ScCU frOm aboVC, the
abdomCll.
end
much from
is
,
,
abdomen
293).
.
is
a
Tin
little flat-
In the female
slightly raised
and the
lower part of the front of the head carried forward a
little
beyond it (fig. 294). In the males there are two horns on the
head, one between the eyes and one below them (fig. 295).
The color is light yellow, sometimes with a metallic luster, as
though
light
gilded.
brown
On
stripes,
the sides of the
the back of the cephalothorax are three
and sometimes there are dark spots
abdomen and over the
spinnerets.
The
at
legs
THE THERIDID^
125
are slender, without markings, the front pair longer than the
The
abdomen is movable and is sometimes curved downward when the spider is disturbed in the
They make webs
web, as shown by the dotted line in fig. 292.
others.
Theridium, between branches of shrubs
like those of
and
also
point of the
among
(fig.
296)
the upper threads of the webs of larger spiders.
They have been found
in the
Agalena, Theridium, and
webs
of
Linyphia, in
the looser parts, out of reach of the
maker
of the
web.
Hanging
in the
web,
they look like straws or the scales of
pine buds that have fallen into
The
it.
cocoons of eggs hang in the web
have a peculiar shape
(fig.
296), the
upper part conical and the lower
part contracted into a narrow neck.
The
species
is
England and
is
common
found
all
in
New
over the
country as far south as Florida,
Argyrodes nephilae.
as
large
with the
as
— This
is
about
Argyivdes trigomini,
hump
silver
white and
the under side of the body black
or
dark brown
(fig.
The
297).
297
299
Figs. 297, 29S, 299. Argyrodes nephilje.
Both en298, male.
297, female.
larged eight times. 299, head of male.
—
hump ends in a blunt round point.
The front of the head is more nearly
vertical than in trigoimm,
and the upper part projects forward, carrying with
middle eyes.
In the male there are two horns
it
the front
in front of
the
upper one carrying the middle eyes of both rows
(fig. 299).
The cephalothorax is black or dark brown above
and below. The abdomen is black on the under side, including
eyes, the
the spinnerets, and there
back to the
tip of the
is
hump.
a black middle stripe extending
The
basal joints of
all
the legs
THE COMMON SPIDERS
126
The
are white.
little
brown
third and fourth legs are light colored, with a
ends of the
at the
darker, and the
first
The second
joints.
legs are
pair are almost black, except at the ends.
The males are colored like the females, but have the abdomen
not much larger than the cephalothorax (fig. 298), and the hump
This is a southern species and is said to live among
rounded.
the outer threads of webs of large Epeiridae.
make webs
of its
at Charleston,
own, and
S.C,
in
I
It
does, however,
have seen the adults of both sexes
these webs away from any other spiders.
300
Figs. 300, 301.
Argyrodes
fictilium.
— 300, female enlarged eight times.
301, top of the cephalothorax.
Ai-gyrodes fictilium.
abdomen
is
— In
this species the pointed
much more elongated than
hump on
in trigonum,
in
the
some
spiders to eight or nine times the length of the cephalothorax
(fig.
300).
The
tip is
rounded
pointed in the larger ones.
inclined than that of trigonum
in
The
(fig.
young specimens and sharp
front of the head is more
301).
The
colors are light
yellow and silvery white, with three darker lines on the cephalo-
thorax and a faint middle line on the abdomen.
very slender and long in proportion to
Found
rarely from
New
England
to
the
Alabama.
The
legs are
long abdomen.
THE THERIDID^
Spintharus flavidus.
The cephalothorax
—A
127
sixth to a quarter of an inch long.
nearly circular, and the head small and
is
narrow
Argyrodes, with the hinder
like that of
The abdomen
middle eyes very far apart.
widest across the front third, where
thirds as wide as
(fig.
On
302).
point
over
the back the
the
it
spinnerets
abdomen
and marked with white stripes each
between them a large pattern
is
two-
is
and from here
long,
is
it
a blunt
to
tapers
it
is
flat
side,
and
in
black and red, lighter toward the
middle, where there are two or
three pairs of white spots.
legs are slender like
Argyrodes, the
four
larged
tibiae of
and fourth
same length and twice
pairs the
as long as the
Fig. 302. Spintharus flavidus, en-
first
The
those of
the
second
first
pair.
The
and second legs
Fig. 303.
Euryopis
funebris, enlarged
are bright orange color, and the
four times.
times.
rest, like
The male
yellow.
the cephalothorax, pale
has longer legs and more
They live on low plants, and
unknown. They have been found
slender abdomen.
the
web
is
from Massachusetts to Alabama.
Euryopis funebris.
with a
flat
—A
little
abdomen pointed behind and
dered with a silver-white
stripe.
an eighth of an inch long.
is
small and as wide as
rounded.
a
little
The
dark-colored spider,
The head
is
it
is
It
is
bor-
^
almost
The cephalothorax
long, with the sides
half as wide as the thorax,
Fig. 304.
Theridula
sphaerula, enlarged four times.
raised and extended forward over the mandibles
(fig.
303).
front middle eyes are largest and are farther apart and
farther forward than the others.
The abdomen
is
flat
and
THE COMMON SPIDERS
128
nearly as wide in the middle as
and tapers to a point
long,
it is
behind.
The
is
black or dark gray.
thorax
yellowish under the
abdomen and black
is
abdomen has
and inside
The
cephalo-
The
in front.
a bright silvery stripe around the hinder half,
broken by
this the color is black,
The
middle.
general color
legs
and palpi are
light spots in the
light yellow, with
dark rings on
The
the ends of the joints.
legs are longest.
from bushes
It
is
fourth
shaken
summer, or from
dead leaves on the ground in
winter, and its web is unknown.
It
is
found from the White
Mountains to Alabama.
in
Theridula sphaerula.
very
and
distinct
— This
nized species, although
than
(fig.
a
tenth
of
an
it
is
is
less
long
inch
The cephalothorax
304).
a
recog-
easily
is
yellow, with a wide black stripe
The abdomen
in the middle.
is
high and round and wider than
Fig. 305.
Pholcus phalangioides.
young female
hanging
slight
in its
—A
a natural position
web.
in
elevation
at
yellowish gray,
is
it
;
middle and
There
each side.
around the spinnerets.
long
is
it
with a greenish white spot in the
The
legs
black
a
is
also
are light
a
on a
spot
black
yellow.
In
spot
the
male the light parts of the cephalothorax and legs are orange
and the markings of the abdomen less distinct than in
It lives on bushes all over the country.
This is a large pale spider, with legs
Pholcus phalangioides.
color,
the female.
—
•
so long that
nickname
of
it is
often confounded with Phalangium, under the
"daddy
longlegs."
The body
inch long, and the longest legs two inches.
is
quarter of an
The abdomen
is
THE THERIDID^
129
about three times as long as wide and nearly straight
The cephalothorax
sides unless full of eggs.
and
Around the eyes
behind.
fiat
the head
is
is
at the
nearly round
raised and in
the males separated at the sides from the rest of the head.
The middle
pair of eyes are not higher than the tops of the
The mandibles
lower lateral eyes.
and
front of the head,
in the
The
tooth near the base.
are nearly as high as the
males they have a small conical
color
is
pale brown, covered with
fine gray hairs, and the whole body and legs are translucent.
The head
a little darker
is
around the eyes, and there
is
a large gray patch in the
middle of the cephalothorax.
The abdomen
marked only
is
by a translucent middle
line
This
over the dorsal vessel.
common
is
a house
in
America and Europe, and
spider,
probably imported.
lives
It
where there
light and makes
but
in cellars
is
little
large,
loose,
flat
webs,
where there
is
horizontal
a convenient
place, or irregular to
surrounding objects
The
fit
(fig.
spider hangs in the
into
308).
web
abdomen directed
upward, and when alarmed
with
the
swings
so that
itself
it
around rapidly
is
phalangioides.
Pholcus
—
306,
female and male natural size, and cephalothorax of female much
enlarged. 307, mandibles of male.
can hardly be seen.
The egg cocoon
and
Figs. 306, 307.
is
so thin that
it
does not conceal the eggs
carried about in the spider's mandibles until the
hatch out.
young
THE COMMON SPIDERS
I30
Pholcus cornutus.
— A small species from the southern
states,
with a body about a tenth of an inch long and the legs from
half to three-quarters of
it is
nearly triangular
Web
of Pholcus phalangioides
(fig.
little
In front
it
is
little
between them
groups.
just
The mandibles
cellar.
higher than wide
forward toward the mandibles.
310) are raised a
humped on
between two shelves in a
The
eyes
from the head, three large eyes
almost touching each other in a group on each
pair
is
seen from the side
The cephalothorax is as wide
The head is small and marked by
a shallow groove on each side.
and inclined a
side, so that
309).
(fig.
as long and nearly circular.
Fig. 30S.
The abdomen
an inch.
the back and short on the under
side,
and a small
above the lower eyes of the larger
are three-quarters as high as the head,
with a small tooth on the inner corners and, in the males, a
THE THERIDID.^
131
long curved horn projecting forward near the base of each
mandible
The
311).
(fig.
are very slender and trans-
legs
parent,
slightly
brown, with
colored
darker rings at the ends of the femur
and
There
tibia.
around
a
is
dark
eyes and head,
the
mark
forming
behind them a middle line that widens
toward the hinder end of the cephalo-
The abdomen
thorax.
is
gray,
marked
on the upper side with three or four
pairs of darker spots
lighter spots,
and behind with
somewhat
like Tlicridimn
tepidariorum.
Scy tode s
thoracica.
Pholcus corof female
enlarged four times. 310, back
Figs. 309, 310, 311.
nutus.
— 309,
311, front of
of female.
dibles
side
male,
of
man-
showing
the
curved horns.
This
is
—
a very
peculiar
spider,
prob-
ably imported
from Europe, and found
in cellars
and
inch long
when
closets.
full
It is
grown.
about quarter of an
The cephalothorax
and abdomen are both round and nearly of the
same size. The cephalothorax is low and narrow in front and slopes upward to the highest
point opposite the third legs (fig. 313), and from
there falls abruptly behind.
number,
and the
the head
in
The
eyes are six in
three pairs, the middle pair lowest
lateral pairs
(fig.
312).
wide apart
The
at
the sides of
front of the
head below the eyes projects forward
figs. 312, 313.
Scytodes thoracica.
312, female enlarged eight
times. 313, side of cephalothorax.
—
beyond the mandibles. The legs are
slender and tapering, the tarsus and metatarsus not more than
THE COMMON SPIDERS
132
The
half as thick as the tibia.
color
pale yellow or white,
is
with black or gray spots, in a regular pattern on the cephalo-
thorax and abdomen, and in rings on the legs.
Mimetus
same
size
riorujii,
interfector.
— This
is
about the
and color as Theridium
but
it
tcpida-
has a round and Epeira-like
abdomen and spiny legs like Epeira or
Linyphia.
The length is nearly a quarter
of
The cephalothorax
an inch.
is
one and
a half times as long as wide, widest behind
and narrow
The manand dark colored, except
in front (fig. 314).
dibles are long
The cephalothorax
a spot near the base.
is
whitish, with a stripe of
the eyes to the dorsal groove.
men
is
brown from
The abdo-
small, widest in front, like that of
Epeira ajignlata, with two prominent corners.
The markings
— a central
the edges
stripe,
(figs.
are also like Epeira,
with dark spots along
314, 315).
The
color
gray and brown in the darker parts.
Figs. 314, 315. Mimetus
interfector, enlarged four
showing markings
two different individ-
times,
of
uals.
is
The
legs are light yellow, with dark rings at
the ends of
the joints.
It lives on
bushes and
occasionally on houses and fences,
where
among
it
has been found in webs
those of Thcridimn tepida-
riorum.
Ero thoracica.
bles the
— This spider resem-
young
—
Figs. 316, 317. Ero thoracica.
316,
back of female enlarged eight times.
\\i, side of female.
of TJicridiuvi tcpidariornni, but the colors are
brighter, and the hairs longer and coarser.
It is
an eighth to
THE THERIDIDyE
The cephalothorax
a sixth of an inch long.
in the
middle as
it
is
nearly as high
is
long and slopes at a sharp angle under
abdomen
the front of the
133
(fig.
317).
The head
is
lower than the
middle of the thorax, and the front middle eyes project beyond
The abdomen
the mandibles.
humps on
of
is
as high as long and has a pair
The cephalothorax
the highest part.
is
light
yellow, with a dark irregular stripe on each side and a middle
by a crescent-shaped mark on the highest part.
is white, with brown spots of various shapes.
line crossed
The abdomen
The front half
of each
hump
is
dark brown, and a dark line
extends from there down the sides
the
abdomen
times reddish.
abdomen.
(fig.
316).
The
Stiff
brown
hairs
are scattered
legs are ringed with
in
is
unusual in this family.
winter under leaves in woods.
It is
all
brown and
have coarse brown hairs and long spines on the
which
At the back
of
are several transverse stripes, which are some-
tibia
over the
yellow, and
and
tarsus,
found under stones and
It lives also in
Europe.
THE LINYPHIAD^
The
Linyphiadae consist of a great number of species of small
spiders living, for the most part, in shady woods,
among
the
lower branches of plants, under leaves, and in caves and
They differ from the Therididag generally in having the body
cellars.
more elongated, the
legs stouter
and with more spines, the
mandibles larger and stronger and furnished with teeth around
the claw, and the maxillae straighter and not inclined inward
toward the labium.
phia and
which
and
allies,
its
—
LinyThere are two groups among them,
which are comparatively large and some of
the open woods, with large cobwebs, and Erigone
live in
its allies,
which are
short grass, dead
all
leav^es,
very small spiders, living mostly
The
and moss.
narrower bodies and stouter
in
have
resembling the Drassidae.
legs,
Their colors are generally plain and
difficult to
latter usually
dull,
and the females are
distinguish from each other, while the males often
have peculiar modifications of the head and proportionally very
large and complicated palpi.
The webs
usually have a large
flat
sheet, supported
above and below, under which the spider
lives.
Some
have the sheet of web curved upward or downward.
marginata forms a dome-shaped web four or
by threads
five
species
LiiiypJiia
inches in
diameter.
THE GENUS LINYPHIA
These spiders vary
in size like
the species of Theridium, from
a quarter of an inch to a tenth of an inch long.
ance they differ greatly from Theridium
134
;
In appear-
the cephalothorax
is
THE LINYPHIADyE
135
longer and higher in front, the legs are long and slender, with
distinct spines,
on the back as
and the abdomen
pointed toward the spinnerets.
Fig. 31S.
but often
is
sometimes a
little
in Steatoda, but oftener high in front
in color
Web
of
The
sexes differ
Linyphia marginata.
and markings.
The
Half the real
flattened
and a
little
little
in size.
size.
palpal organs and the
terminal joints of the palpi of the males are very large
and
complicated, and in the smaller species form the best means of
distinocuishinsT
them.
There are a great number
of
minute
THE COMMON SPIDERS
136
species of Microneta, Bathyphantes, and other allied genera,
common
but only the larger and more
Linyphia marginata.
shady woods
spiders in
of
— This
all
are here described.
one of the most
is
common web
through the summer.
It is
a sixth
an inch long, with slender legs, the longest of which are
The cephalothorax is two-thirds as wide
usually half an inch.
brown and the
The abdomen is flat on top
as long, the middle of
edges
light.
it
and widest and thickest behind, the colors
and purplish brown
light yellow
In the middle there
(fig.
319).
a dark stripe, con-
is
sisting usually of three parts united
narrow
and behind
line,
At the
dark spot.
sides are several dark
all
connected with the dark
The
color of the under side.
and spines
In the males
319
Figs. 319, 320. Linyphia
marginata.
319, female
—
enlarged
eight times,
showing markings
baclc.
of the
320, side of abdo-
the
fine
marks
middle of
its
lives
web.
all
It
brood
marginata
the
in June,
common
and
their
in
form of a dome
hung between rocks and plants,
(fig.
so transparent that
the sun shines upon
318)
it.
it
is
The
in the
threads are
easily escapes
The meshes
fine,
notice
and
unless
are larger than in L. phry-
web-making species. The depth and width
the dome depend somewhat on the shape of the opening
giana and other
of
time in
August and September.
of L.
seldom much concealed by leaves.
web
the
matures
are
a few
This spider has
at the sides.
no nest, but
four or five inches in diameter,
the
easily seen.
abdomen narrower, with only
light
the young
The web
and not
the colors are darker and
all
men.
small webs in
legs are
markings, and the
light yellow without
hairs
by a
another
is
ones lengthwise and the
stripes, the front
hinder vertical,
this
flat
THE LINYPHIAD/E
in
which
porting
is
it
made, and the number and length of the sup-
threads vary according
spider stands apparently
dome.
137
all
the
to
Insects flying near touch the threads above the
and, their flight being broken, drop
dome
The
surroundings.
the time under the top of the
down among
dome
closer threads
where they are caught by the
Remains of insects and
other rubbish are cut loose from the web and dropped.
The
and, finally, to the
itself,
spider and taken through the meshes.
Beginning of a web of Linyphia marginata.
Fig. 321.
webs seem
a
new one
to
is
be used for a long time, but
soon made, either
in
if
they are injured
the night or day, and the
remains of several old webs are often seen hanging
torn below a
new
one.
The dome
is
begun
flat
and
at the top
and
extended downward by inclined threads, an inch or two long,
which are crossed by shorter threads in all directions (fig. 321).
The spider works very rapidly, but I have never seen a dome
finished, the spider always working a few minutes and then
resting a long time.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
138
Linyphia communis.
legs a little shorter.
—A
The
little
smaller than marginata, with
colors are the
same
light yellow
purplish brown, but the markings are distinctly different.
cephalothorax
Fig. 322.
is
Web
of
uniform light brownish yellow.
and
The
The middle
Linyphia communis between the branches of a spruce
Half the real size.
tree.
abdomen extends the whole length of the upper
and connects with several narrow brown stripes that extend
stripe of the
side
down the
and
sides
(fig.
less enlarged
323).
The abdomen
behind than
in
is
more regularly
oval
marginata, but the upper part
extends back farther over the spinnerets.
The under
side
is
THE LINYPHIAD^
139
dark brown.
The male is smaller than the female, with the
head higher and the abdomen narrower.
The palpi of the
male are unusually small for the genus
cointniinis
Below
and supported by threads above.
distant,
is
(fig.
The web
324).
of
322) consists of a horizontal sheet, convex below
(fig.
upper threads
down
fall
to
this,
about an inch
Insects flying between the
another sheet of web.
the sheet below and are taken
through by the spider, as they
are in the
dome
of marginata.
—A
little
L. com^nunis
and
Lin3rphia mandibulata.
larger than
marginata, with the head longer
and
more
distinct
thorax, and the
from
abdomen
the
larger
and flattened on the top
(figs.
Figs. 323, 324.
Linyphia
back
— 323,
communis.
of female enlarged eight
times.
324, profile
of
male.
326, 327).
a sixth
The length
is
an inch.
The cephalothorax
of
about
is
dark
orange brown, and the legs a lighter shade of the
same
The
color.
length of the legs
is
about as
in
cotmminis, shorter than viargijiata and pJirygiana.
The abdomen
is
dark brown, often almost black,
with several white spots, usually two across the front end and
several others around the sides
sometimes forming a
In the males the
narrow, and the only markings are usually the two
(fig.
326),
complete light stripe around the middle.
abdomen
is
The
spots on the front end.
and narrow
;
the head
is
cei^halothorax of the male
is
long
extended forward, and the mandibles
The mandibles
inclined backward toward the maxillae.
are
more than half as long as the cephalothorax and widened at the
ends, with four teeth on the inner corner
(fig.
side of the mandibles, near the middle,
is
The webs
329).
On the inner
a large blunt tooth.
and near the ground, on short grass and
leaves and across little hollows in the sod (fig. 325).
The webs
are
flat
THE COMMON SPIDERS
I40
are not as large as those of pJirygiana, and the spider has no
nest, but stands always in the
alarmed.
It lives all
web and drops suddenly when
over the eastern part of the country and
resembles closely the Linyphia pnsilla of Europe.
Linyphia coccinea.
— About a
red and orange color.
Fir.. T-
Web
of
The
sixth of an inch long
size
and bright
and length of legs are about
young Linyphia mandibulata in short grass near the ground.
About the real size.
the same as in cojuDiunis.
The
legs are
light
orange, the
cephalothorax a deeper shade of the same color, and the abdo-
men
light red.
The
palpi have the ends black,
are sometimes streaked with black.
and the legs
The hinder middle
eyes are
THE LINYPHIAD/E
141
twice as large as
the others and
twice as far apart
as the front middle
The
pair.
space
between and
around the middle
eyes
is
black.
The
top of the abdo-
men
is
a
little flat-
tened and extended
back
in a blunt
black point over
the spinnerets
330).
(fig.
tle
(fig.
The male
331) differs
lit-
from the female
except in the more
slender abdomen
and longer legs.
The male
—
Figs. 326, 327, 328, 329. Linyphia mandibulata.
326, markings of abdomen of female enlarged eight times.
327, side
of
abdomen.
and palpus
of male.
329,
palpi are
as long as those of the female
ends.
328, cephalothora.x
mandibles of male.
The blackened
and only a
little
point on the end of the
thickened at the
abdomen
is
less
distinct in the
male than the female.
The web
little
is
a
concave, not as
deep as that of inarginata and with
smaller meshes.
low
plants.
It is
This
is
made among
a
common
species in the South.
Linyphia phrygiana.
of
Figs. 330, 331.
330,
female,
twelve times.
—
Linyphia coccinea.
331, male enlarged
the most
common
is
one
species and
in
the woods and around
It is
larger than inaj'gitiata
Hvcs both
houses.
— This
THE COMMON SPIDERS
142
and coninuinis, measuring a
cephalothorax
is
of
fifth
an inch
length.
in
The
light yellow, with a black line in the middle,
forked at the front end, and another at the sides near the edge
The
of the thorax.
legs are light yellow, with a dark ring at
the end of each joint and at the middle of each tibia and metatarsus.
Fig. 332.
The
legs are also
Web
marked with dark
of Lin\ phia phrygiana in a barberry bush.
spots, especially
The
spider stood under
the upper part of the inclined sheet close to the stem.
on the femora, and the spines are black and conspicuous. The
abdomen is yellowish, with brown spots at the sides and beneath,
and along the middle
bone
stripe
(fig.
333).
back
is
a dark
The head
of the
of the
brown or red herringmale
that of the female and has a crest of stiff hairs.
(fig.
is
higher than
The male
palpi
334) have a long spur on the patella and have the end small,
linyphiad^
thp:
The web
like coimminis.
(fig.
A
times over a foot across.
143
332) is a large flat sheet, somecorner of it usually runs under a
stone or other hiding place, and here the spider stands, often
making a
Linyphia
little
tent in connection with the web.
(Stemonyphantes)
trilineata.
— About
quarter of an inch long, with a large oval
and comparatively short
color
the
gray,
cephalothorax with three dark
lines,
and the abdomen with three rows
dark spots partly connected in
The
legs are
abdomen
The
legs.
yellowish
light
is
of
lines.
marked with dark rings
on the ends and middle of the joints,
more distinctly on the under than on
333
Figs. ^^3^ 334giana.
The sternum
the upper side.
in
is
light
middle and black around the
the
a
edge, and the
and beneath.
—
334
Linyphia phry333, markings of abdo-
men enlarged eight
times.
334,
palpus of male.
abdomen has irregular black spots at the sides
The male has longer legs and wider thorax and
smaller abdomen.
It lives
under stones and logs and winters
under leaves
both
in
this
in
the woods.
It
Linyphia (Bathyphantes) nebulosa.
sixth of an inch.
with
is
common
country and Europe.
— Length
a
Color light brownish yellow,
gray markings
(fig.
338).
Some
are
almost white, and others are dark, with the
black spots covering a large part of the body.
Fig. 335.
trilineata.
Linyphia
— Mark- The
ings of abdomen en-
larged eight times.
cephalothorax
is
dark on the edges and
has a dark middle stripe, forked toward the
The abdomen
eyes.
has six or seven pairs of
more or less connected with a dark middle
abdomen and sternum have black spots
dark individuals, run together, making these parts
irregular dark spots,
line.
The under
which, in
entirely black.
side of
The
legs have dark rings
on the ends and
THE COMMON SPIDERS
144
middle of
and
femora
the
The
tibiae.
spines
are long and darker than
the
The
skin.
num
is
epigy-
folded twice, so
that only part of
seen ex-
is
it
tending out from the under side
of the abdomen
The palpus of
Figs. 336,337,338. Linyphia nebuiosa.
336,
male.
337, female en-
—
larged
t
wei ve
mes.
ti
markings of
abdomen.
•1^8,
of
back
places about houses.
It is
The web
imported.
is
(fig.
339) has large and complicated
the end.
In
at
nrgneral
*=*
in
the
.,
angle
cellars
in
340, 341).
male
the
appendages
is less
common
is
(figs.
rounder than
shape
'
it is
next
spccies,
and the
^^11
at the base
of the tarsus
prominent.
This spider
r
^
^i.
and other damp and shady
common
in
Europe and
is
perhaps
flat,
like that of L. pJirygiana,
and
often large for the size of the
spider,
sometimes covering a
pail or
box a foot wide.
Linjrphia (Bathyphantes) minuta.
— One-eighth
a
little
of an inch long,
smaller than nebuiosa.
The cephalothorax
lowish
brown,
yel-
is
darker
at
the edges, but without any
middle
line.
markings of
nearly cover
appears
light
tism,
The dark
the abdomen
it,
dark
markmgS
so that
gray
it
with
.
instead of
340
341
—
Fi^s. 339, 340, 341. i.inyphia nebuiosa.
339,
palpus of male. 340, epigvnum from below.
341,
epigymim from
the right side.
THE LINYPHIAD^
145
dark
with
light
mark-
ings, as in nebulosa.
The
legs are light brownish
yellow, with dark rings
on the ends and middle
of the
The epigynum
losa
(fig.
is
femora and
folded twice, as
The male
343).
palpi
tibiae.
in
(fig.
nebu-
344)
have a general resemblance to those of
nebulosa,
but
large
there
The
differences.
are
tarsal
some
hook
distinct
is
very
and has a longer and narrower
point than nebulosa.
The
tarsus has on
the outer side near the base a conical
point roughened with short ridges.
—
of
abdomen
of
more prominent
is
344
Figs. 342, 343, 344. Linyphia minuta.
342, side
female.
344,
343' epigynum.
of palpus of male.
nebulosa.
places often in
end
is
company with
is
than in
and similar
cellars
Linjrphia (Drapetisca) socialis.
distinct species
white and
in this species
It lives in
This
nebulosa.
— This very
marked with gray and
often found on
the bark of trees without any
web.
of
a tenth to an eighth
It is
The
an inch in length.
cephalothorax
white
is
with
black edges, a black spot in
front
under the eyes, and a
black
mark
in
the middle, from
which indistinct
lines
radiate
toward the edge.
The
men k
is
Incf
wir1p<5t
widest just
hehind
oenina the
tne
middle
(fig.
It is
345).
abdo-
white,
.
mottled With gray, and has a
Figs. 345, 346, 347.
,^^^
markings
of
Linyphia socialis.—
back of abdomen en-
larged eight times.
346, side of female.
347, front of female
dibies, and paipi.
showing eves, man-
THE COMMON SPIDERS
146
black stripe on each side and several pairs of black spots in the
middle, connected with a middle line. The legs are white, with
a gray ring at the end and middle of
The
each
joint.
legs
and palpi
spines are long on the
(fig.
The mandi-
347).
bles have an oblique dark stripe
The
of teeth in front of the claw.
epigynum
346)
(fig.
is
and
and a row
several long hairs in front
large and ex-
tends obliquely backward away from
abdomen and curves inward again
the
the
at
end.
northern
lives
It
part
of
over the
all
country
this
and
Europe, under leaves and sometimes
on
Linyphia
signls.
— 348rfemale
twelve times.
men of(ffemale.
,
350,
trees,
it is
occasionally found
OU the bark without any WCb.
_!.•
Linyphia
^
t
•
'^
epigynum.
eighth
socialis,
where
in-
enlarged
340, side of abdo^^'
of
/tt«i
_i..
\
(Helophora)
r
/
\
•_
and the
— An
a
an inch long, as long as
The cephalothorax and
abdomen gray or white, some-
but more slender.
light yellow,
•
•
insignis.
&
legs are
times without markings and sometimes
with gray stripes at the sides and two
or
three
pairs
of
gray
marks across the hinder
half
(fig.
The
348).
lothorax
of
cepha-
the male
is
twice as wide across the
middle as
at
The legs
are without
markings.
The epigynum
is
long and
(fig.
350)
straight,
the
head.
extending back-
ward close
to
the
—
Figs. 351, 352, 353. Linyphia concolor.
351, end
of palpus of male.
352, side of epigynum.
353,
epigynum from below.
abdomen
for half
its
length.
The
tibia
THE LINYPHIAD.'E
of the palpal
organ has a short, pointed process, extending
from the side
directly outward
webs among low
Linyphia
147
(fig.
They
348).
live in
flat
plants.
(Diplostyla)
concolor.
— About
a twelfth of an inch
long, a little smaller than nigrina, with long slender legs,
and
abdomen slightly pointed toward the spinnerets and not
much larger than the cephalothorax. The color is light yellow
the
—
Figs. 354, 355, 356, 357, 358. Linyphia nigrina.
354, side of
male.
356, end of palpus
355, markings of back of female.
of male.
357, 358, epigynum.
355
The
epigy-
352, 353) has a long, slender, flexible process
on the
brown, the abdomen gray without any markings.
num
(figs.
outer edge that extends backward to the middle of the abdo-
men, and under
it
is
another shorter one not easily seen.
tarsus of the male palpus
than that of nigrina.
leaves in winter
Linyphia
all
(fig.
351)
is
The
longer and more tapering
Adults of both sexes are
common under
over the northern part of the country.
(Diplostyla)
nigrina.
—A
tenth
of
Cephalothorax and legs light yellow brown.
an
inch
Abdomen
long.
dark
THE COMMON SPIDERS
148
gray or black, with
five or
six transverse light
markings, usu-
ally in the male and often in the female broken into pairs of
spots
(fig.
two
The abdomen is high in front and a little
The epigynum (figs. 356, 357) has
354).
355).
pointed behind
(fig.
flexible processes,
one over the other, extending backward,
the tip of the inner one extending beyond the outer.
tarsus of the male palpus
(fig.
356)
is
short and truncated, with
tube twisted in a circle around the end.
its
The
It
lives
under
leaves in winter.
THE GENUS ERIGONE
The Erigones
few
of
them
will
are
near the ground
Fig. 359.
Web
all
very small spiders, and for this reason
in
grass, moss,
of Erigone dentigera
like those of Linyphia,
fully searched for.
There
is
when the Erigones appear
during: the fine
live, for
the most part,
and dead leaves, with small
among stems
About the
webs
They
be described.
of grass close to the ground.
real size.
and are seldom seen unless careone season of the year, however,
in
immense numbers.
weather that comes after the
first
This
is
frosts in
THE LINYPHIAD/E
October and November, when they,
young
many
of
in
larger kinds of spiders,
149
company with the
come to the tops of
posts and fences and, turning their spinnerets upward, allow
threads to be drawn out by ascending currents of
sometimes
spiders are
air,
until
the
lifted
off their feet
and
carried long
dis-
Though
tances.
not so easily seen,
the same perform-
ance
is
going on
at
the tops of grass
and bushes, and
at
times the whole
country
is
covered
with threads of silk,
and the threads
the air tangle
in
to-
gether into flakes,
which
fall,
at
Fig. 360.
Erigone dentigera trying to fly. Enlarged eight
From a photograph on Boston Common.
times.
length
sometimes from great heights.
This appearance
is
called
England "gossamer" and in Germany the "flying summer"
and the "old woman's summer."
Why the spiders spin the
thread and what use it is to them to be blown about are
unknown. At the time of the autumn flights great numbers
of these spiders may be seen on fences and doorsteps in city
streets wherever there is a neighboring park or grass plat, and
in
the spiders probably live the rest of the year
among
this grass
near the ground.
— These
spiders are a tenth
of an inch to a twentieth of an inch long
and generally dark
Erigone longipalpis
brown
in
color,
and
dentigera.
with the cephalothorax smooth and shining.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
ISO
In
some, especially the larger males, the cephalothorax
same
bright orange and the legs partly of the
females vary considerably in
size,
The
color.
much
but are otherwise
is
alike.
The peculiarities are in the males.
The head is about half the length of
the cephalothorax and abruptly raised
and rounded on the top
Along the
sides
361).
(fig.
the thorax are
of
small pointed teeth of various sizes
in
a single irregular
The mandibles
ened
row
are very
thick-
middle and have a row of
in the
teeth on the front outer side
The
362).
(fig.
much
palpi of the males are
as long as the
complicated
(fig.
364).
sometimes
whole body and
of a
The femur
shape.
is
curved upward and forward and has
a
row
The
of little teeth
patella
and
on the under
tibia
The
about as long as the femur.
patella has at the
Figs, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365.
gone
dentigera. — 361,
Eri-
side
of
male. 362 back of cephaiothorax of male enlarged sixteen
times.
364, man363, female.
dible of male,
-iGi, maxilla of
male.
(fig.
end a straight tooth
downward with
directed
The
361).
g^j where
it
of the tarsus.
side.
are together
tibia
is
a short point
widened
at the
Spreads
around the base
'
The
maxillas are
much
thickened and the bases of the palpi
spread wide apart
palpi are usually carried doubled
up
(fig.
365).
in front of the head,
The
with
the curved ends of the femora just below the eyes and the palpal
organs over the ends of the mandibles.
The
legs of Erigone
are only moderately long, and they walk easily, like the small
Drassidae.
They move slowly and
are not easily frightened, so
that at the time of flying they can be closely watched.
THE LINYPHIAD^
151
—
This is one of the few species
Erigone autumnalis.
gone that can be distinctly separated from the others.
in
the same places and
in the
autumn
found with
is
flights.
It
is
of
Eri-
It lives
lojigipalpis
only a twentieth of
an inch long, but can be distinguished
by
its
head.
light color
The
and bright yellow
palpi of the males have
the tibia shorter than the patella and
the tooth on the patella turned
more
forward than in longipalpis, with a
longer
and
sharper
from the base to the
Ceratinella laetabilis.
367
Erigone autumna-
Figs. 366, 367.
lis.
— 366, under side of
cephalo-
367, palpus of
thorax of male.
male.
point
tip
tapering
(fig.
367).
— This about
—a
— but much
is
the same size as fissiceps,
six-
teenth of an inch long,
darker colored, and the males do not
have horns or humps on the head,
The cephalothorax and sternum
brown, and the legs dark orange.
ened
on the abdomen
circle
(fig.
are
dark
The
thick-
368)
is
dark
orange brown and the thinner
In the female the
parts gray.
thick circle
is
usually wanting
and the whole abdomen dark
gray, with lighter spots around
the muscular marks.
also
stem
the
of the
abdomen and under
spinnerets
The head
is
in
both sexes.
slightly
behind the eyes, a
in
There are
hardened spots around the
elevated
little
more
the male than in the female.
The male
palpi (figs. 369, 370)
369
Figs. 368, 369, 370.
— 368,
368
Ceratinella laetabilis.
outline of side of female enlarged sixteen times.
369, 370, end of
male palpus.
—
THE COMMON SPIDERS
152
are shorter and stouter than those oi fissiccps.
It lives in
leaves and moss, sometimes under stones, and
found flying
dead
is
sometimes
little
spiders are
the autumn.
in
— These
Ceratinella fissiceps.
among
the smallest species,
measuring only a sixteenth of an
The cephalothorax and abdomen are short and
round, and the abdomen has a
inch in length.
round thickened spot on the back,
more deeply orange colored than
the part around
it.
The head
is
black around the eyes, and a black
372
Fuis. 371, 372, 373.
extends backward half the
line
371
Ceratinella fissiceps.
— 371, varieties in the form of the head.
372, 373i palpus of male.
length of the ccphalothorax.
head
of the
The
male extends forward
over the mandibles, carrying with
it
the front middle eyes, and above
the hind middle eyes.
pairs
of
lateral
it is
a
rounded
hump
with
The
eyes
are
opposite the crease between
humps
the
(figs.
371).
The
female has at the same point
a slight
crease
the
across
head and an elevation before
and behind
They
it.
are
common on low bushes
summer and under leaves
very
in
in winter,
ally
and are occasion-
seen
the
in
autumn
flio-hts
'^
'
Cornicularia
,
_
^
The
directa.
,
^
,
males and females are of the
Cornicularia directa.
Figs. 374, 375, 376.
375, head
374^ male enlarged sixteen times.
of male showing the double horn.
376. head
„f
male from above.
THE LINYPHIAD/E
same
size
thorax
is
The cephaloThe abdomen
than the rest.
The
and about a twelfth of an inch long.
brown, varying
in different individuals.
gray, with the muscular spots lighter
is
153
cephalothorax
long, narrowing gradually toward the head.
is
In the males there
the eyes, a
is
a slender
horn extending forward between
thickened at the end and covered on the upper
hairs in rows (fig. '})76).
Under this horn is a
little
side with stiff
smaller one about half as long and close against
In
females
it
(fig.
375).
horns
the
are absent, but the shape
of the
head and arrange-
ment
of the eyes are the
same, except that the
eyes are closer together.
There are several other species
some with
laria,
similar horns
of Cornicu-
and others
with single horns on the heads of the
They
males.
are found under leaves in
among
winter, on plants and fences, and
the flying
spiders in autumn.
^
Ceratinopsis
interpres.
tenth of an inch.
with a
little
— Length
Figs. 377, 37S.
about a
Color bright orange,
"^^^^^^^'/^^
head
'"'^ "^
of
P''p"'
In the female the height of the head equals the
spinnerets.
is
Ceratinopsis
— 377,
black around the eyes and the
length of the mandibles, and in males
the sexes
interpres.
about the same.
it is
greater.
The upper middle
The
size of
eyes are a
little
larger and farther apart than the front middle pair, and between
them
in the
is
a flattened space covered with
male than
in the
female
(fig.
the femur as thick as the femur of the
very short and wide, with a
edge.
They
in winter.
live
little
on low bushes
stiff
377).
black hairs, longer
The male
first
palpi have
leg and the tibia
recurved point on the front
in
summer and under
leaves
THE EPEIRID^
The
Epeiridae are the makers of the familiar round cobwebs.
Like the Therididse and the Linyphiadae, they
live
always in
webs or nests back downward or, when in the round web,
head downward. The cephalothorax is generally short, as in
Therididae, and low and wide in front, with the eyes near the
front edge, the lateral pairs close together and farther from
their
The
the middle eyes than the latter are from each other.
The
mandibles are large and strong.
as short as wide,
at
and
maxillae are short, often
parallel or a little divergent
and rounded
The labium
the ends, never pointed or turned inward.
is
shorter than wide and rounded or slightly pointed at the end.
The
more commonly than
legs are usually long and,
in the
other cobweb spiders, stout and furnished with spines.
Most
and its
of the
allies,
common
species belong to the genus
having rounded abdomens and stout
Epeira
legs,
some
them with humps and spines and peculiar angular forms of
The colors are often bright, and those of the
abdomen arranged in a triangular or leaf-shaped pattern. In
Meta (p. 190) and Argyroepeira (p. 191) the abdomen is more
elongated and the form and marking more like Linyphia.
In
of
the abdomen.
Tetragnatha
abdomen
(p.
201) the whole body
is
long and slender, the
several times as long as the cephalothorax, and the
maxillas and mandibles, especially in the males,
The
colors are
much
more uniform and the markings
elongated.
faint, usually
among which they
consist of a number
light gray, yellow, or green, like the plants
live.
The round webs
of the Epeiridae
of radiating lines, varying in different species
seventy, crossed by two spirals,
— an
154
from a dozen
to
inner spiral that begins
THE EPEIRID/E
in the
at
to
center and winds outward, and an outer spiral that begins
the edge of the
made
of
when
a sticky liquid.
Fig. 379.
Web
is
it
and dust
like the rays,
outer spiral
thread, which,
The
web and winds inward.
smooth thread
The
it.
is
made
fresh,
In the finished
of
is
of Epeira strix covered with
more
inner spiral
will
elastic
is
not stick
and sticky
covered with fine drops of
web
(figs.
379, 380) the outer
dew hanging between
One-third the real
spiral
155
the rails of a fence.
size.
covers three-quarters or more of the diameter and the
inner spiral a quarter or
before the sticky thread
the whole of
the outer
it
and
is
less,
is
but in the unfinished
put
in,
web
(fig.
381),
the inner spiral covers nearly
cut out, piece by piece, to
make room
for
spiral.
In beginning a web, after the radiating threads are finished,
the spider fastens them more firmly at the center and corrects
THE COMMON SPIDERS
156
the distances between
them by
several short, irregular threads
(fig. 379) and then begins the inner spiral with the turns, at first
close together and then widening, in some species gradually, in
others suddenly, until they are as far apart as the spider can
Fig.
-580.
Finished web of Epeira sclopetaria
witli
unusually small number of rays.
The
spider hangs in the center, head downward, in its customary position. The lower half
of the web is wider than the upper half, as it usually is. The cross threads with tri-
angles at the ends are caused by two or more threads sticking together in the middle.
reach with the spinnerets on one and the front feet on the next,
and so goes on nearly
abruptly
(fig.
381).
to the outside of the web,
The
then begins, sometimes
at
where
spider usually rests a
it
stops
moment and
another part of the web, the outer
THE EPEIRID^
sticky spiral.
In the outermost parts of the
forms several loops
it
157
(fig.
381,
/;
to/),
filling in
web
it
usually
the corners until
approaches the inner spiral and finds room to pass completely
Fig. 381. Unfinished web of Epeira sclopetaria showing the completed inner spiral
ending at a. The outer spiral began at b, went to c, and returned to d; turned
and went to c, and then to/; and from there nearly around the web to g. From
^ it returned to tlie lower part of the web and made loops at i and/, and then
started around the web until it was stopped at k.
around the web.
As soon
way
cut out, and by the time the outer spiral
a part of
it is
finished the inner
near the center.
is
as the inner spiral
is
found in the
is
reduced to the small and close portion
THE COMMON SPIDERS
158
While the temporary
made
spirals are
as far apart as possible,
the threads of the outer spiral are placed as close together as
they can be without danger of their sticking to each other,
closer together toward the center of the
and usually a
little
web than they
are at the outside.
the rays of the
with the
body
slightly
web
the spider
and second
first
In fastening this thread to
feels for the last thread
first
feet, and,
having found
of the fourth pair at a short distance
turns the
from the point where the
After taking hold of the ray with the
thread crosses.
last
it,
around and grasps the ray with the nearest foot
down
fourth foot, the spider turns
the
abdomen
so as to place
the spinnerets against the ray and fastens the thread to
it,
at
the same time holding the thread off with the other fourth foot
to
prevent
making
is done
web seems
to be
The whole
it.
done entirely by feeling and
as well in the dark as in daylight.
When
fresh
anything around
sticking to
its
of the
the
web
is
spider
is
made every
active
and the food supply good, a
day, the old one being torn
down and
In tearing down a web (fig. 382) the spider
thrown away.
walks out from the center on one of the rays and gathers in
what web he can reach with the front feet, chews it into a
ball,
and drops
it
then,
;
having put
in
new rays in the
web and tears
cleared space, he goes to another part of the
down another piece.
The variations between
chiefly
(p. 191),
most
is
in
the
central
gibberosa
(p.
the webs of different species are
portion.
177),
In
the
and placida
(p.
webs
178),
of
Jiortornni
which spend
of their time in the web, the close part of the inner spiral
very large, circular, and finely finished, usually showing no
trace of the wide temporary spirals.
very large, and there
and outer
spirals.
is
The number
a wide clear space
In Argiope the inner spiral
and widens gradually until
it
of rays
is
between the inner
is
very large
almost touches the outer
spiral.
THE EPEIRID^
It
has a closely woven mat
of white
silk
the center and two zigzag bands
extending up and down.
and Acrosoma have a hole
the middle, the irregular center being entirely removed.
The webs
in
in
159
Fig. 382.
new
of Tetragnatha, Meta,
Epeira sclopetaria tearing down an old web and beginning a new one. Five
made and a quarter of the old web remains at the right.
rays have been
Insnlaris and trifoliiim live always in tent-shaped nests, with a
thread, or several threads, leading to the center of the web.
have a similar thread from
nest to web, and leave open a segment of the web through
Globosa, labyrinthea,
which
it
passes.
and
Zilla
THE COMMON SPIDERS
i6o
web
Insects flying through the
and, trying to free themselves,
at
the center of the
web
fall
strike the
sticky threads
against others.
movements
feels the
The
spider
of the insect
and goes toward it by the nearest ray and, drawing out silk
from the spinnerets, throws it around the insect until it is tied
Adult male Epeiridae are seldom seen in webs of their
fast.
them do occasionally make webs. The male
for instance, sometimes makes a web
E.
nearly as large as that of the female and stands in it
own, but some
of
sclopetaria,
waiting for insects to be caught.
»
The Three House Epeiras
sclopetaria, patagiata,
— These
and
:
E.
strix.
are the round-web
spiders most
commonly found
about houses, barns, and
They
fences.
are
about the same
sIVjA
all
size,
third of an inch
<'W.:^^%
X^ length,
a
in
and of various
shades of brown, with a
scalloped
distinct
mid-
dle stripe on the abdoFigs. 383, 384, 385. 383, Epeira sclopetaria.
Epeira patagiata. 3S5. Epeira strix.
stripe
broken
side, so as to
at
(fig.
384)
is
form two separate
The
383) has the
middle
one covering the front
figures,
of the
abdomen.
In patagiata
in
In
sti'ix (fig.
385) the middle stripe
the others and usually lighter in color.
color of sclopetaria inclines to black, with the light
yellow.
alcohol,
(fig.
the edges of the stripe are usually entire
and-j'/77.i'
whole length.
narrower than
Sclopetaria
the edges just in front of the middle of each
and the other the hinder half
for their
men.
3S4,
Patagiata
is
and the middle
oftener
stripe
reddish
is
brown,
marks
especially in
often dark and uniform in
THE EPEIRID/E
broken by spots and transverse marks than
color, less
The
others.
and the front legs of strix shorter and
of strix is more plainly marked
The cephalothorax
stouter.
the
others,
much
not
the
in
front legs of sclopetaria are longer than those
of the other species,
than
l6l
with three longitudinal stripes.
There
difference in the markings of the under side.
is
The
epigynum has two hard brown prominences at each side, with
a soft finger-like appendage between.
In sclopetaria and
sti-ix this finger is slender and tapers slightly toward the end.
In patagiata it is wide at the end and flattened.
In the
palpi of the males there is a similar difference.
Those of
sclopetaria
and
strix are
much
alike,
but that of patagiata has
much thicker and more curved.
northern species, common in Canada and found
the forked hook at the base
Patagiata
is
a
occasionally as far south as Massachusetts and
is
also
common
north of Europe.
in the
New
York.
Sclopetaria
It
also a
is
European species, and is seldom found far from houses. It is
more common north, but has been found as far south as Norfolk,
Va.
Strix
is
common
all
over the country, both around
houses and in bushes.
The webs
of these spiders
rays,
and the inner
(figs.
379,
have usually from twelve
spiral
is
The webs
380).
to twenty
and carelessly finished
small
are
made
usually at
nightfall,
very young individuals beginning to spin soon after sunset,
and larger ones beginning
later,
often waiting until dark, but
spin their
webs
at
any time
full grown
them will occasionally
They stand in the web
those that are
some
of day.
of
during the night, but seldom during the daytime, going then
to
their
usual nests or hiding places, sometimes, especially
with Epeira
strix,
a long distance from the web.
As
a rule,
they have no special thread by which to enter or leave the
web, but use any one of the rays which may be convenient,
always injuring the web more or
less
;
but occasionally,
if
THE COMMOxX SPIDERS
l62
Epeira sclopetaria has a nest
make
the
web near
it
the center of the web, as
The eggs
species.
Fig. 386.
in large,
in a
convenient situation, he will
and have a thread direct from the nest to
is
the usual habit in some other
of sclopetaria are laid in the early
Egg cocoon
of
summer
Epeira sclopetaria under the edge of a clapboard.
Natural size.
round, white cocoons
(fig.
386). fastened in sheltered
places on the walls of houses and covered with a loose
mass
of silk threads.
The
(fig.
caria
Annulate
Epeiras.
390), Hordmaniii
(fig.
men, and
392)
in
— E.
(fig.
angulata
(fig.
387), cinerca
(fig.
389),
silvatica
391), and
corti-
have the humps on the front of the abdo-
all
young
spiders this
is
the widest part.
Angulata,
and cinerca grow to a large size.
Cinerca is light
colored and lives in great numbers about houses and barns
silvatica,
in
northern
New
England.
Angnlata and
silvatica are
amons: trees and are dark colored like bark.
found
Anzulata has a
THE EPEIRIU^
163
yellow stripe on the sternum and yellow spots under the
between the spinnerets and epigynum.
num and
abdomen
Silvatica has the ster-
under side of the abdomen brown, without any distinct
The male angulata has
markings.
second leg nearly as long as the
male silvatica has the second
shorter than the
first tibia.
the thickened tibia of the
The
tibia of the first leg.
tibia less
thickened and a fourth
The male aiigulata has
spines under the coxae of the second legs, but
spines are so small as to be hardly visible.
a pair of long
in silvatica
these
E. nordnianiii
is
a
smaller species, about as large as sclopctaria and strix, with
gray colors and generally distinct marking both above
light
and below.
E. corticaria
is
not more than half as large as
and might be mistaken for the young of that species,
but the colors are lighter and the rings on the legs narrower
silvatica
The epigynum
and more numerous.
caria
is
and the middle appendage
if
broken
is
often wanting as
off.
Epeira nordmanni.
and a
of corti-
nearly as large as that of silvatica,
— This
The abdomen
angulata.
is
a
little
smaller
longer legged than cinerea and
little
is
longer than
in
humps in
not more than
those species and has two similar
front
half
(fig.
The female is
The colors are white and
The cephalothorax is light
387).
an inch long.
gray or black.
11
gray, darkest at the sides, but without stripes.
1
1
1
he legs have a dark
•
rmg
1
at the
ends and a
lighter
one in the middle of each joint.
'
"
abdomen has
hinder
—
f/^^^^aie
to the top of the
humps
is
an indistinct dark area extending
and, in the middle, inclosing a bright,
long, white spot, with a round spot on each side
united with
it.
enlarged
twice.
a distinct middle stripe on the
In front there
half.
The
Epeira
nordmanni.
Upper
and under markings
Fic.s.387, 388.
The sternum
is
sometimes
dark brown, without any stripe.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
164
The under
the
side of
which are four yellow
abdomen has
a middle dark area in
two
behind the respiratory
spots,
just
openings and two farther back, halfway to the spinnerets.
Epeira angulata
and
silvatica.
haps varieties of the same
trees and
— These
species,
grow
spiders,
which are per-
live usually
among
large
to over half an inch in length.
The abdomen has two slight humps on the
The colors are dark, like the bark of
trees.
The cephalothorax is dark brown, with
front.
traces of darker lines in the middle and at
sides.
at the
in
The
its
legs are brown, with darker rings
ends of the joints and less distinct rings
The abdomen has
front.
The middle
the middle.
yellow spot
in
a bright
stripe
is
darker brown than the rest and has a scalloped
edge marked by a dark and light
line,
may be entire or broken into lines
The under side of the abdomen is
which
of spots.
black or
brown, with sometimes several yellow spots.
The sternum
is
uniform brown in silvatica
and has a yellow middle stripe
The males
390
—
Figs. 389, 390.
3S9,
Epeira angulata.
Epeira
390,
tica.
silva-
Both enlarged
twice.
angulata.
are about half as large, with the legs longer,
The
especially the front pairs.
second legs
first pair,
and more numerous than
a
is
first,
tibia of the
twice as thick as that of the
little
bent, with the spines stouter
in the female.
In the male of the
angulata variety the tibia of the second pair
as that of the
in
are colored like the females and
but in silvatica
it
is
is
nearly as long
On
distinctly shorter.
the under side of the coxae of the second legs
is
which
The epigynum
is
longest in the angulata variety.
a conical spine,
is
small for so large a spider and has a long slender finger in
the
middle.
These spiders are found singly or
in
small
—
THE EPEIRIDyE
165
numbers, usually in the woods, sometimes
between trees high above the ground.
Epeira cinerea.
This large spider is common
—
part of
New
grows
the
abdomen
humps on the
proportionally
front part
(fig.
and long white hairs scattered
The cephalothorax
body.
markings
all
a
is
The
391).
dirty white, with grayish
is
lives
it
and with two small
larger than angnlata
color
northern
three-quarters of an inch in
to
with
length,
in the
York, where
numbers about barns and houses.
in great
It
New
England, from Maine to
hung
webs
in
over the
little
dark-
but has no distinct stripes.
ened
at the sides,
The
legs have gray rings at the ends and
Fig. 391. Epeira cinerea.
Back of female enlarged
twice.
middle of each
in
some
joint,
which are hardly
visible
individuals and almost black in others.
The markings
The
abdomen has a
are like those of aiigulata, but paler and often indistinct.
sternum
is
brown, and the under side of the
central dark stripe bordered by curved yellow
markings.
lata,
at
The epigynum
but the finger
the end.
is
is
small, as in angii-
flattened and turned
The male
is
up
colored like the
female, with the hairs on the legs coarser
and darker. The tibia of the second legs
the male is not thickened or modified as
is
in
The webs resemble
angnlata.
of E. sciopctaria,
Fig. 392.
caria.
Epeira
corti-
— Back of female
enlarged eight times.
Epeira corticaria.
habits,
in the
web
night and
at
daytime
;
and
it
has
no special thread from the web to the nest.
This is a small species about quarter of an
—
inch in length, with the
as wide as long
it
it
those
and the spider has similar
standing in the
usually leaving
of
(fig.
392).
abdomen angular in front, where it is
The colors are generally lighter and
1
THE COMMON SPIDERS
66
brighter than in angiilata or silvatica.
the cephalic part brown and
The cephalothorax
The legs
has
the sides pale.
are
marked with broken brown rings at the ends and middle of
each joint.
The abdomen is brown of various shades, with
light
markings on the front part that are often bright red or
yellow.
There is a narrow light line across the
abdomen from
the
middle to
each
hump and
around the outer side
of
In front of these
it.
abdomen
light lines the
generally darker, ex-
is
cept a light spot, some-
times cross shaped, in
the middle.
The hinder
half of the
abdomen has
sometimes an indistinct
middle
The
stripe.
under side of the abdo-
men
has the usual mid-
dark
dle
area,
with
a
curved yellow mark each
side of
of the
it.
The
epigynum
ally absent, as
if
finger
is
usu-
broken
off.
Epeira trivittata
Figs. 393, 394, 395. Epeira trivittata, enlarged four
times.
394, male.
393, female.
395, markings
—
of under side of
abdomen.
domiciliorum.
spiders,
and
— These
which may be
considered varieties
one species, are among the most
common
of
Epeiridoe, at least in
the northern part of the country, the smaller variety, trivittata^
quarter of an inch long, living in small bushes and marsh grass,
and the larger variety
in trees
and fences.
The abdomen
is
THE EPEIRID^
only a
in
longer than wide and
little
The
instdaris and thaddeus.
proportionally smaller than
legs are long
and slender, the
The
pair being nearly twice as long as the body.
first
most commonly
the
is
167
abdomen
light yellow, with
brown markings.
color
is
Sometimes
thickly spotted with red, especially toward the
is
latter part of the
summer, and domicilioruiu has usually gray
The cephalothorax has
and even black markings.
three dark
and the legs have brown or
the joints. The back of the abdomen
stripes not very sharply defined,
gray rings at the ends of
has a row of light spots in the middle, sometimes united into
a stripe, and on each side of this a row of dark
The
spots nearly surrounded by lighter color.
sternum
bright yellow in the middle, and
is
the under side of
the
abdomen has a dark
center and two or three pairs of yellow spots.
The males
usually
are
females, but resemble
ings.
On
single
row
them
smaller
in color
than
the under side of each femur
second legs
of
long spines.
The
the
and markis
a
tibia of the
curved more in the small than
is
the large
variety and has a row of strong
o
o
spines on the inner side.
in
-'
The webs
are
made
fk,. 396.
Epeira
F^^te^sis, enlarged
tour times.
usually just before dark, and the spider
stands in them more in the night than during the daytime.
Sometimes they make a thread from the center
of the
the nest, but this
with
(fig-
is
not a regular habit, as
it is
web
to
iiisularis
397)-
Very young spiders make proportionally larger nests, often on
the ends of grasses, where their round webs are destroyed every
Some of them mature as early as June, and
day by the wind.
others, especially of the domicilionnn variety, as late as August.
Epeira pratensis.
trivittata,
and
— This
is
the same size and color as Epeira
lives, like that species, in
grass and low bushes.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
i68
The cephalothorax and abdomen
is
dull
are both slightly longer than
more uniform. The cephalothorax
yellow, with a middle and two lateral stripes, but these
in trivittata,
and the color
is
absent
often
are
are
legs
in
The
light specimens.
colored
like
the cephalothorax,
sometimes a little
darker at the ends of
the joints.
men
The abdo-
has a middle dark
stripe, at the sides of
which are two narrow
bright yellow lines,
which are sometimes
bordered with
red.
Outside of the middle
stripes are six pairs of
black spots partly sur-
rounded by yellow.
On
the under side the ster-
num
has a yellow stripe
in the middle,
and the
abdomen two curved
yellow
I'iG. 3^7.
Web
of Epeira insularis, with nest above
covered with leaves and several threads leading
from the nest to the center of the web. One-third
the real size.
narrower than
and the
marks,
spots.
the body
in
tibiae of
which
may be broken
In
is
the
into
male
longer and
the femiale and longer than the male trivittata,
the second legs are a
little
thickened and curved
as in trivittata.
Epeira insularis or marmorea.
— The
three-quarters of an inch long, the
adult females are half to
abdomen
large and oval, and
THE EPEIRID.^
169
bright yellow or orange color, with brown or purple markings
(fig.
The cephalothorax
398).
yellow, with slightly
dull
is
The femur and
the middle and at the sides.
darker lines
in
patella of
the legs are bright orange, darker toward the ends.
all
The other joints are white, with brown ends. The light parts
abdomen are bright yellow marked with brown. In the
of the
a narrow deeply scalloped stripe, bordered
middle
is
yellow
line,
by a wide
brown
outside of which are oblique yellow and
In the middle of the stripe
markings.
is
a
row
of light spots,
each connected at the sides with two others, smaller and round,
forming a large figure
abdomen
is
is
The males
circular yellow spots.
about
are
399)
The
females.
as
half
tibiae of
long
the under side
the middle.
The
(fig.
the
as
on the
The
inner side short and stout.
the
in
the second legs
are thickened, and the spines
of
On
at the anterior end.
brown and bright yellow
dark brown, with two semi-
the sternum
coxae
second legs have a
conical spine near the base.
This spider
lives
in
bushes
three or four feet high.
makes
397),
a tent of leaves
in
which
it
It
(fig.
usually
stands out of sight, holding
a thread which leads to the
center of the nest.
spiders
make
Young
larger tents in
proportion to their size and
make them
(fig.
400).
the
first of
is
entirely
of silk
Figs. 398, 399.
twice.
Epeira insularis, enlarged
— 398, female.
In Massachusetts and Connecticut
September.
It is
found
all
it
399, male.
matures about
over the country, and
probably a variety of the European Epcira marmorea.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
I/O
Epeira thaddeus.
insiilaris,
—A
small species resembling the
young
but with less distinct markings on the back.
of
Full-
grown females are about quarter of an inch in length, with the
abdomen large and round (fig. 401). The colors are orange
Fig. 400.
Web
of
young Epeira
insularis,
showing the nest above and the straight thread
Half the real size.
leading from the nest to the center of the web.
The two
front pairs of legs
tibia orange,
darker toward the
and light yellow
like iiisnlaris.
have the femur,
patella,
and
femur and patella
The
orange. The other joints are white, with dark rings at the ends.
The tibia of the fourth pair has a wide dark ring at the end.
ends.
third and fourth legs have the
THE EPEIRID^
The abdomen
is
171
white or light yellow on the upper
brown underneath, the edge
side,
and
the dark color coming far
of
enough up to be seen from
above, around the sides and
front
(fig.
401).
Under the
middle of the abdomen
is
a
yellow spot just behind the
401 a
Figs. 401, 401 a. Epeira
thaddeus, enlarged four
times.
401
epigynum(fig.40i<'7). In
individuals there
is
sometimes
light,
so that
around the middle of the abdomen.
near the web and
it
like insiilaris.
Epeira trifolium,
some
a trace of
markings on the hinder part
of the
under side
is
abdomen, and
there
is
the
a dark ring
This spider makes a tent
lives in
— This
is
one of the largest species
of
the family,
from half
of
measuring
to three-quarters
inch long, with
an
a
large round abdomen,
usually of a purplish brown
color, and legs strongly
marked with black rings
(fig.
The
403).
thorax
cephalo-
white, with three
is
wide black
stripes.
The
legs are white, with a black
the end of each
ring
at
joint
and
the
in
fourth
the middle of
femur.
The
Fig. 402.
back of the abdomen varies
in color
from dark purplish brown
Epeira trifolium in its nest in a plant
Natural size.
of golden-rod.
to light
gray or white, or
THE COMMON SPIDERS
1/2
sometimes light yellow, and the same individual will change
The usual markings are four white
from light color to dark.
spots and a middle row of smaller spots, with several
oblique rows
still
All trace
smaller.
of
the
usual
wanting except in very
young individuals. The under side of
middle stripe
the
is
abdomen
is
dark brown, and the
usual semicircular yellow marks are
absent
except
males
(fig.
as long as
young.
the
in
The
more than half
the females and slender and
404) are not
The markings
light colored.
are like
those of the female, but less distinct.
The
tibiae of
the second legs are not
thickened or modified in shape as they
are in the male ijisularis.
makes
dom
web
a large
stands in
tent above the
leaves,
silk,
Trifoliiim
in bushes, but selIt
it.
web
has near by a
(fig.
made
402)
drawn together and
of
lined with
connected with the center of the
web by
remains
a strong thread, and
in
this
it
usually
tent
with one foot on the
thread, so that
Figs. 403, 404. Epeira trifolium,
enlarged twice.
403, female.
404, male.
—
it
feels
when anything
caught.
The
is
spiders
mature in September,
when the males may sometimes be seen about
the nests of the females.
In October they
Fig. 405.
Epeira
dis-
plicata, enlarged four
times.
lay their eggs
and
Epeira displicata.
all
die before winter.
— Large females are quarter
but they are usually smaller.
of an inch long,
The cephalothorax and
legs are
THE EPEIRID.^
brownish yellow, without markings.
173
The abdomen
light yellow or crimson, the latter color
Sometimes there are two white
young.
At the sides
hinder half
abdomen
pairs of
is
oval and
more common
in the
lines in the middle.
the
of
of the
are three
round black
spots surrounded by
lighter rings
(fig.
405).
The under side of the
abdomen is a little
darker than the upper
side,
with no distinct
markings.
The male has the
legs
and cephalotho-
rax
darker brown
than the female, and
the black spots on the
abdomen
larger
surrounded more
tinctly
and
dis-
with white,
which sometimes
forms a stripe on each
side.
The
the second
tibiae
not thickened.
webs
of
legs are
The
are usually
small and
among
leaves.
Epeira
globosa or
triaranea,
— Length
about a quarter of an
The abdomen is round and as
inch, the male a third smaller.
wide as long, and in the female large for the size of the spider.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
174
The
front half of the
abdomen
nearly covered by four white,
is
yellow, or pink spots, partly united into a rectangular figure
surrounded by an irregular black line
half has
(fig.
407).
The hinder
three or four pairs of black spots.
The general color is light brownish yellow.
The cephalothorax has a fine middle line
from the eyes to the dorsal groove and indisdark marks
tinct
The
first
at
the sides of the head.
and second legs have slightly darker
riugs at the end and middle of each joint, the
Fig. 407. Epeira giobosa, enlarged four
^^jj-^i
times.
^^^ fourth pairs
^
The male
only.
at the
ends of the joints
•"
is
marked
like
the female and
has the tibia of the second legs slightly curved and thickened
with large spines on the inner side.
This spider makes a very large
tent, out of
which a strong
From
406).
web extends downward, sometimes covering half of the round web (fig. 406).
Opposite the
thread leading to the tent, a segment of the round web is left
thread runs to the center of the round
web
(fig.
the tent a loose and irregular
open or partly open without any sticky threads.
Epeira labyrinthea,
irregular
web
— This
which
in
is
spider
makes
thread with the small round web below,
in
The female is a
The abdomen is oval and
Epeira globosa.
long.
a large
a tent connected by a
much
fifth of
as
an inch
not unusually
Fig. 40S.
large, as
thorax
is
it is
in
long,
globosa
(fig.
dark brown
lighter at the sides,
408).
in
The
cephalo-
the middle and
and almost white
Epeira
labyrinthea, en-
larged four
times.
in front
around and behind the eyes. The legs are white, with narrow
dark brown rings at the ends of the joints and wider yellow
first and second pairs.
The
abdomen is marked with four long white spots in front and
a dark brown middle band behind.
At the sides the abdomen
rings on patella and femur of the
THE
is
EPEIRID.'E
light
brown
175
On
or yellow.
the under
side the ends of the mandibles
and the
The sternum is
white middle stripe.
The
maxillae are black.
with a
men
black,
abdo-
has a short middle white stripe sur-
rounded by a large dark
and there
spot,
are several yellow spots along the sides
and around the spinnerets.
The round web
of this spider
is
not
large, generally three or four inches in
diameter, but the
and
Fu;. 409.
Web of I'.p^^ini
labyrinthea with large irregular
web around
irregular part
covering
it
sometimes as much as
across,
where the shape
ment
above
may be much
larger,
six inches
of the surround-
One
seg-
at the upper part of the round
web
ing plants allows
the
One-third the real
nest.
partly
it
(fig.
409).
size.
is
Zilla (p.
185),
is
of the
summer
several small,
cocoons
(fig.
is
Epeira gibberosa.
then
— A small and
among
grass and in bushes in open
adult female
to a quarter of
to-
regularly made.
light-colored species living
The
In the last
web above
410), which
smaller and less
173) and
the nest,
flat,
strung
are
gether in the irregular
the tent
(p.
to
often covered by a large spreading tent.
which
brown
partly open, as in globosa
and here a strong thread passes
is
fields.
from a sixth
an inch long, and
the male smaller.
The
cephalo-
thorax and legs are light greenish
yellow, and the
'
abdomen
.
gray, or
)"^^^ °^ Epeira labyrinthea with
upper part over
the spider's nest. One-third the real size.
^^''- .4^°-
string of cocoons in the
.
light yellow covered with lighter
THE COMMON SPIDERS
1/6
spots and black and yellow markings
marked with two
is
parallel lines
(fig.
The abdomen
411).
on the hinder half and three
The
smaller black spots in front, the latter often absent.
parallel lines are
sometimes broken up into rows
may form part of several
marks.
The cephalothorax has
these
of spots,
and
transverse black and yellow
a
narrow black
the
line in
middle from the dorsal groove nearly to the eyes. The feet
are black toward the claws, and the spines
of the legs are long
The
and black.
first
and second femora have a longitudinal
The
abdo-
than wide.
The
black line on the under side.
men
is
oval, half longer
cephalothorax
high
is
the middle and
in
slopes forward toward the eyes almost as
steeply as backward
(fig.
413)
is
(fig.
The web
412).
horizontal or inclined, with a
round well-defined central portion,
middle of which
is
opaque screen that nearly
411
Figs. 411, 412.
Epeira gibberosa, enlarged eight times.
— 41
1,
back of female.
side view to
the
covers
web
In the finished
spider.
the
in
sometimes a round
there
is
usually no trace of the temporary spiral,
but sometimes, as in the figure, a
412,
show humps on
it
the cephalothorax.
is left,
showing how
from the closer
starts abruptly
it
spirals
little of
that form
the
The outer spirals are very fine and close
number of rays unusually large, sometimes as
center of the web.
together and the
many
as sixty.
Epeira placida.
— This
is
a small spider, about a fifth of an
inch long, with the longest legs about a quarter of an inch.
The cephalothorax
against the
is
high
in
abdomen very much
The abdomen
is
paratively short
oval,
the
as
it
middle where
is \\\
and widest behind.
gibbcrosa
The
and tapering, and the femora
it
(fig.
rests
412).
legs are
com-
thick.
The
THE EPEIRID^
brownish yellow, with three brown stripes.
same color, a little darker at the ends of the
The abdomen has a middle brown stripe, narrow in
cephalothorax
The
177
is
legs are the
joints.
front and widening to the middle, from which
spinnerets, keeping about the
it
extends to the
same width, with a row
of black
spots on the edge at each side and a pair of white spots in the
Fig. 413. Web of Epeira gibberosa, showing the round center of the iniiLi spiral, tlie
great number of rays, and the closeness of the spirals.
Torn in several places
by use. Half the real size.
middle
(fig.
The
414).
and underneath
it is
sides of the
abdomen
are white or yellow,
brown, with two white stripes in the mid-
and four white spots around the spinnerets. The male is
marked like the female and has no peculiar modifications of
the legs.
This spider matures early, sometimes before the
dle
first
of
June
in
Massachusetts,
and
half-grown young
are
THE COMMON SPIDERS
178
found
autumn.
in the
The web
is
like that of gibberosa, with
a large, round, and close inner spiral from which, in the unfin-
The web
ished web, the temporary spiral starts abruptly.
made
may be
low bushes and
in
—A
is
vertical or inclined.
yellow spider, a sixth to a
fifth of
an inch long, with the abdomen angular behind and
at the
Epeira scutulata.
sides
light
and as wide as long
(fig.
The cepha-
415).
half as wide in front as
lothorax
is
and the
lateral eyes are as far
it
is
behind,
from the middle
The
front
legs are a fourth longer than the second.
The
eyes as they are from each other.
general color
light yellow, the legs darker at
is
the ends of the joints, with long black spines.
Epsira
Fig. 414.
piacida, enlarged
^hc head has
few brown or red marks behind
a
the cycs and back to the dorsal groove, but these
eight times.
•
i
t^i
The
i
are often entirely absent.
abdomen
is
lighter across the front
the two corners, and there
In front of
distinct white transverse stripe.
each
corner
is
black
a
spot,
between
sometimes a
is
and there
is
generally a row of small black spots around
the front of the abdomen, and two rows behind
converging toward
hinder
rows of
the
the
spots
generally longest,
spinnerets.
middle
In the
pair
are
and sometimes these are
The under side has no
The epigynum is dark at
the only pair present.
distinct markings.
the sides, and the finger
end and turned a
little
is
short and
outward.
flat at
Fig. 415.
Epeira scu-
tulata, enlarged four
the
times.
The male
has the legs longer, and the cephalothorax wider behind.
abdomen
is
not
much
angular than in the female.
female,
some
The
larger than the cephalothorax and less
The
colors are the
individuals being light and
some
same
dark.
as in the
THE EPEIRID/E
Epeira parvula.
— A common spider
all
179
over the country, with
abdomen wide in front and bluntly pointed behind, gray
and brown colors and a great variety of markings. The length
the
is
quarter to three-eighths of an
abdomen two-thirds
inch, with the
as long
and as wide across the
The abdomen
front.
behind as
it
pointed end
little
is
is
is
as high
in front,
and the
41^
sometimes turned a
upward, as
it is
front of the head
is
in conica.
Figs. 416, 417, 418. Markings of the
abdomen of Epeira parvula, enlarged twice.
The
narrow, not more than half as wide as the
The front legs are half longer than the
The cephalothorax is gray, darker at the sides, and
sometimes with a few black spots. The legs are irregularly
back of the thorax.
body.
marked with rings and spots, and the femora are dark toward
the end.
The abdomen is commonly gray, with a tapering
scalloped middle stripe and a distinct dark middle spot and
two large light spots at the front end (fig. 416). Sometimes
there
^
a
is
middle narrow dark stripe
the whole length of the
abdomen
418), and sometimes
the middle
white or light yellow.
the head a
little
all
(fig.
is
The males have
narrower and more
pointed, the legs longer, and the second
tibiae slightly
The webs
Epeira
thickened, but not curved.
are in low bushes.
stellata.
—A
brown
spider,
a
quarter to a third of an inch long and
Fig. 419. Epeira stellata,
enlarged four times.
rax
is
in front,
and the
The
humps
cephalotho-
on the outer sharp
The legs are short and usually drawn up and partly
wide
corners.
nearly as broad, with pointed
around the abdomen.
lateral eyes are
concealed under the abdomen.
The abdomen
has a sharp point
THE COMMON
i8o
in front that
SPIDPZRS
extends over the cephalothorax as far as the base
and a large point behind, with a smaller one
sides are five pairs of points, and over the
The
these another pair a little higher on the back.
of the first legs,
under
first
it.
of
Fig. 420.
At the
Unfinished web of Epeiia stellata with the spider hanging near
Half tlie real size.
cephalothorax
is
brown, lighter
in
center.
the middle and darker at
the sides, and covered with short gray hairs.
marked with
tlie
The abdomen
is
lighter and darker spots of brown, the front part
generally dark with a very light middle spot, and the hinder
half
showing traces
of the usual middle stripe of Epeira.
The
THE EPEIRID.^
I8l
legs have dark rings at the ends and middle of the joints.
among low bushes
lives
the country.
often leaves a
web unfinished with the inner
as in
it,
•
is
about a quarter of an inch
is
narrow behind but not pointed, and
front nearly as wide as long.
The middle
is
brown
or gray.
in
nearly covered by
in
color
a
of various shades of
lothorax
is
— white, yellow, or pink
— surrounded by darker
a triangular light spot,
different spiders,
spiral still cover-
the South and as far north as
in
The body
N.Y.
The abdomen
long.
It
over
420.
fig.
— Common
Epeira verrucosa.
Island,
all
This spider, as well as several other species,
ing a large part of
Long
a foot or two from the ground
The
cepha-
yellow or light gray, with sometimes
some darker spots
in the middle,
are colored like the thorax,
with darker rings at the
ends of the joints and
the middle of the
in
first
and second femora.
The
spines are slender
and colored
like
the
The abdomen
hairs.
has a prominent tubercle behind, at the
end
of the light spot,
and
under
line
it
two
in
the middle
others.
At
the sides near the posterior
end are two pairs
and some-
421
—
Figs. 421, 422, 423. Epeira verrucosa.
421, female
enlarged twice.
422, under side of female.
423,
male enlarged twice.
of tubercles,
times two other pairs farther forward, and two at the corners of
The colors of the under side are as variable
the light spot.
as those above,
— sometimes
light without distinct markings.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
182
and sometimes almost black
at the sides,
The epigynum
around the spinnerets.
on the sternum, and
422) has a slender
(fig.
pointed finger reaching halfway to the spinnerets.
The male (fig. 423) has the head narrower than the female,
and the abdomen as small as the cephalothorax. The legs are
longer and more slender, with the metatarsus of the second
pair curved inward, and a long forked spine on
same
the inside of the tibia of the
Larinia
directa.
— This
legs.
elongated Epcira pratensis
is
about as long
much
resembles a
2iS
(p.
167).
It
pratensis, a quarter
to a third of an inch, but very slender,
— not
much more than
wide as long
color
(fig.
425).
yellowish
is
a quarter as
The
but
general
pale
translucent,
marked with very
tinct black
spots.
The
and
dis-
spots are
usually in six pairs on the abdomen,
sometimes so small as
to be hardly
sometimes so large as to be
the most distinct part of the spider.
visible,
Figs. 424, 425, 426,
Larinia di427.
recta.
424, male with one
front leg to show its great
In
—
length.
425, female
each
427
showing the spots. 426, female with
four larg3 spots on the back.
427,
under side. All enlarged four times.
pairs of
individuals there
of black spots
with
the legs of one side drawn
up in a natural position,
some
so
leg,
is
a row
on the upper side of
that
when these
are
drawn up over the back hardly anything
is
visible except the spots.
In
some individuals the first and third
spots on the abdomen arc very large and the others
very small
(fig.
426).
The sternum
is
nearly twice as long as
wide, with the sides of the front half parallel.
the sides.
On
dark stripes.
the under side of the
In the male
(fig.
abdomen
It is
darker at
are two parallel
424) the front legs are nearly
first nor
three times the length of the body, but neither the
THE EPEIRID/E
the second pair
curved or thickened.
is
Carolina, Georgia, and
hump
found
It is
in
South
Alabama.
— This spider may be Icnown
Cyclosa conica or caudata.
blunt conical
183
at the
by the
hinder end of the abdomen, extend-
ing upward and backward over the spinnerets
(figs.
428, 429).
Full-grown females are about quarter of an inch long.
The
color is a mixture of gray and white, different individuals varying from almost white to almost black.
The cephalothorax
is
longer than wide, the front part narrow, and the top of the
front of the head extended forward beyond
The hump on
the base of the mandibles.
the
abdomen
and
is
rest of the
into
abdomen and
abdomen
the
of
size,
slopes gradually
In light individuals the markings
it.
there
considerably in
varies
generally about half as long as the
is
are obscure,
dark
distinct
a
but
usually
middle
stripe,
figs. 428, 429. Cyciosa
enlarged four
"^"'*^=^'
times.
widest near the base of the hump.
under side
is
The
black, with a pair of very distinct
across the middle.
The cephalothorax
without stripes, sometimes a
little
is
light
spots
dark gray or black
lighter around
the eyes.
The
legs are white, with dark rings at the end of each joint
and
in the
On
middle of each except the femora.
the
first
and second femora the dark rings are very wide, covering
The males have the
sometimes more than half the joint.
cephalothorax darker and narrower in front, and the abdomen
smaller, with only a slight
the time in the web.
hump.
The
web,
in
and other rubbish and,
of eggs.
it
The
spider seems to live
inner spiral
gradually from the center outward.
silk across the
The
is
There
large and widens
is
usually a line of
which are fastened parts
in
all
of
dead insects
the middle of the summer, the cocoons
spider, standing in the middle of this
band where
crosses the center of the web, looks like part of the rubbish.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
i84
When
down this band of rubbish is
new web made across it. A peculiarity
an old web
is
torn
of this spider
is
that the inner spiral has one, and some-
times two, loops in
it,
making
place,
web
and the
Fig. 430.
Half-finished
web
of
wider than
it is
young Cyclosa conica, showing
The
the lower half.
it
high
sticks
inner spiral has a loop in the
left in
of the
(fig.
430).
and rubbish across
left side.
THE THREE SPECIES OF THE GENUS ZILLA
We
have three species of
much alike
The males
palpi,
They
that
also
it
is
Zilla,
the females of which are so
almost impossible to
tell
them
resemble each other closely except
which are distinctly different
in
apart.
in their
the different species.
are of moderate size, the largest about three-eighths of
an inch long, and in general appearance resemble the genus
Steatoda of the Therididae
(p.
119).
The abdomen
is
large
and oval and a little flattened. The legs are slender and of
moderate length, like those of Epeira. The head is rounded in
front, and the lateral eyes are not separated farther from the
THE EPEIRID.C
185
The mandibles
The
both small.
The color
middle pairs than they are from each other.
are large and thickened in the middle toward the front.
epigynum and the spinnerets are
of all the species is gray, with sometimes a
little
yellow
The cephalothorax has
or pink in the lighter parts.
usually, but not always,
a dark border at the
and a middle dark line that widens and
becomes lighter toward the eyes. The abdomen
sides
has a wide middle stripe like Epeira, scalloped at
the sides and crossed at the hinder end by two
In front
or three pairs of transverse spots.
it is
almost white or tinted with pink or yellow, and
Fig. 431.
narrows almost to a point, with a much darker
Female
Zilla atrica,
spot each side.
en-
larged four times.
The sternum
underneath.
abdomen
the
The
The
abdomen
sides of the
marked with oblique dark marks
is
that
has a light middle stripe.
are
extend
Under
a dark middle stripe, with light each side of
it.
legs are pale, with nar-
row gray rings at the end
and middle of each joint.
These three species seem to
be the same as three found
in
Europe,
— Z.
atrica,
•
x-notata,
and Z.
Africa
found
is
at
Z.
viontaiia.
Ipswich
and Salem on the coast
of
Massachusetts, x-notata
at
Woods
Hole on the south
coast of Massachusetts, and
Fig. 432.
Middle
of
web
of Zilla atrica with
the open segment and thread to the nest at
montana in the White Mounthe left.
tains and Adirondacks.
Wherever found they are in large numbers, atrica and x-notata
living on the outside of houses, and montana in trees and rocks.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
i86
The webs
of Zilla
(fig.
432) have a segment
threads, sometimes for
left
without cross
whole length, and sometimes only
the part of it nearest the center.
Opposite this open segment
a thread leads from the center of the web to the nest (fig. 433),
its
which
a tube of silk open at both
is
ends.
The
of the
differences between the palpi
males are very
the palpi
In atrica
plain.
434) are as long as the
(fig.
whole body, with the femur and
tibia
both slightly curved and the tarsus
and palpal organ small and
In x-jwtata
of x-7iotaia.
palpus
(fig.
like that
435) the
as long as the cephalothorax,
is
and the tarsus and palpal organ small
and
The
round.
fourth
longer
moitana
(fig.
front
than
legs
in
435c?) the palpus is
and the
sus and palpal organ larger.
a
In
atrica.
shorter, the tibia thicker,
is little
are
still
tar-
There
difference in the shape of the
epigynum
of the different species, but
that of viontana
is
twice as large as
that of x-iiotata or atrica.
Singa
Fig. 433.
Tubular nest
of
pratensis.
Singas
inch
long,
with
are
an
smooth bodies and
small Epeiridae a sixth or
Zilla atrica.
bright colors.
— The
fifth
of
among grass and other small plants in
When full grown the females of S. pratensis
an inch long, with the abdomen oval and marked
They
live
low open ground.
are a fifth of
with a double white stripe in the middle and a single one on
each
side.
The cephalothorax
is
yellow,
between the middle eyes not extending
with a
to the
little
black
lateral
pairs.
THE EPEIRID/E
The
187
The
markings.
legs are yellow, without rings or other
abdomen
yellow brown, darker toward the hinder end, with
is
white or light yellow stripes.
yellow-brown
darker
color,
in
The under
side
is
the same
two narrow,
the middle, with
curved, light lines from
the spiracles to the spinnerets.
marked
The males
are
the same
way
in
and have a smaller abdo-
men and
on the
longer
Singa variabilis.
a
is
spines
legs.
—-This
smaller than
little
pratoisis, usually about a
sixth
an
of
The
legs
inch
and
long.
cephalo-
thorax are bright orange
^T,,
,
The
color.
,
,
(fig.
4::;,
Male palpi
Zilla x-notata.
of
21113.-434, ziiia
montana.
4 5;(?, Zilla
front of the
head between the eyes
entirely
F'gs. 434, 435, 435(7.
atrica.
,
black,
is
black.
The abdomen
is
usually
but occasionally has bright yellow markings
436) arranged somewhat as
is
in pratensis.
Sometimes there
a wide middle stripe, with narrower
ones
at the sides
and two underneath.
Sometimes there are only the two
stripes,
Markings
Fig. 436.
back
the
of
of the
Singa variabilis.
same
varieties.
and
there
are
all
lateral
variations
between these markings. The males
are colored in the same way and have
They are smaller than the males of
pratensis, but have the palpal organs as large or larger.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
THE GENUS ACROSOMA
These are small spiders, with the abdomen extended back
half its length beyond the spinnerets, brightly colored, flattened above, and furnished with several pairs of pointed
The cephalothorax is longer than in Epeira and
processes.
Fig. 437.
Argiope and widest
and have only
fine
Web of Acrosoma
the
in
and
middle.
soft hairs.
spinea.
The legs are slender
The webs (fig. 437) are
inclined and have a hole in the middle surrounded by several
turns of smooth thread
like burrs or seeds.
;
At
when hanging
in
it
the spiders look
a slight alarm they will sometimes
drop to the ground and hide under the nearest shelter.
THE EPEIRID/E
— This
Acrosoma mitrata.
is
The abdomen does
spinea.
189
a smaller species than nigosa or
not extend as far backward as in
the other species, but comes farther forward so as to cover
half the cephalothorax
(fig.
The abdomen
438).
truncated behind, with two pairs of pointed
is
processes at the corners, one pair below the other.
In front, the
the
thorax.
brown, as in
abdomen is a little narrowed over
The legs and cephalothorax are
The abdomen
the other species.
Acro-
Fig. 438.
two or three
black spots along the middle and five
light yellow, darker behind, with
is
pairs of
or
six
elongated
dark
The under
side
other species.
is
along
the
mitrata,
enlarged
sides.
as far north as Connecticut.
— This has
pairs in the
on the abdo-
five pairs of spines
places as those of spinea and the
same
other two pairs behind and under the last of the three.
the
four
times.
black mixed with yellow spots, as in the
Common
Acrosoma rugosa.
men, three
spots
soma
humps and
spines are about the
The cephalothorax and
The
colors are
brown in spots and marks
some individuals being
white, yellow, and
those of
All
size.
legs resemble those of
spinea, but the legs are shorter.
like
same
spinea,
almost white, and others as nearly black.
The
males have a long slender abdomen without
humps
Acrosoma spinea.
Acrosoma
enlarged
fj-Qj-j-^
four times.
its
^\
j;|-,g
a
common
— This spider
commou
two long spreading points behind
smaller spines on the front of
is
it
spider as
is
occasion-
distinguished
specics by the shape of
in front and has
There is a pair of
the abdomen and another near
abdomen, which
the middle of each side.
is
Connecticut, where
ally found.
Fig. 439.
rugosa,
This
or spines.
far north as
is
(fig.
The middle
narrow
440).
of the
abdomen
is
white
I
THE COMMON SPIDERS
go
The spines are black at the points and bright
There are several black spots on the back, and
gray marks at the sides. The under side of
the abdomen is darker than it is above and
marked with black and yellow spots. The
cephalothorax and legs are light
or bright yellow,
red at the base.
brown, the thorax with lighter edges.
The young have
the
abdomen
longer, with the posterior spines
short
The
and blunt.
third and
fourth legs are
whitish, with dark
longitudinal
stripes.
440
Figs. 440, 441. 442
Acrosoma spinea.
440, female enlarged four times.
—
441,
male enlarged four times.
less than half grown.
are
The males
smaller than
the females and re-
442,
young
semble the young.
The abdomen
in place of
The
is
a little
444
the spines three pairs of low humps.
front legs are dark, and the hinder legs light,
as in the young.
in
widened behind and has
The web
437) has a hole
the middle, across which the spider hangs.
Meta menardi.
(fig.
— This spider
lives in caves
and
similar cool and shady places in various parts of
this country
and also
in
In general
Europe.
when young,
The abdomen is
appearance, especially
one of Linyphia.
longer than wide, high in front, and
behind
it
reminds
445
Figs. 443, 444, 445. Meta menardi,
enlarged four times.
443. 444,
half-grown young.
445, back of
adult female.
—
tapering a
little
The eyes
are
lateral eyes
almost as near the middle pairs as they are to each
other.
near
The mandibles
(fig.
445).
together,
are
Ions:,
the
thickened
in front
near the
THE EPEIRID^
base,
and slightly turned outward
at
191
the ends and strongly
toothed on the inner side about the claw.
and a
also long
is
of the body.
female
is
an
half
widened
inch
male
the
length,
little
at the ends.
The legs are long,
The full-grown
very deep.
a
The maxillae are
The dorsal groove
the front pair twice the length
in
third
shorter, but with legs nearly
as long.
is
gray,
The
general color
the
lighter
parts
translucent and yellowish.
The cephalothorax has
three
gray stripes, more distinct
the young, a middle
from the eyes
in
stripe
to the dorsal
groove, and one on each side
In the
of the thorax.
young
444) the markings of the
abdomen are two large dark
(fig.
spots near the front end and
several other pairs,
toward
smaller
becoming
the
hinder
end.
In adults these mark-
ings
unite
stripe
more
into
a
middle
like Epeira, with
a light middle spot in front
and several middle spots and
Figs. 446, 447. Argyroepeira hortoriim, enlarged
four times.
446, under side of female.
447,
—
back of female.
pairs
of
spots
diminishing
The legs have gray rings at the ends and middle
The webs are horizontal or inclined, according
joints.
They
shape of the rocks on which they are built.
backward.
of the
to
the
resemble the webs of Tetragnatha, having a small central spiral
with a round hole in the middle, across which the spider holds
THE COMMON SPIDERS
192
herself.
This spider matures late
the summer, and makes
in
large, loose,
the
autumn
or early in
and transparent cocoons,
hung near the webs.
Argyroepeira
spider,
with
hortorum.
slender
— This
legs
is
a
and
green
silver-white
and a long abdomen resembling
The
Tetragnatha.
body
of the female
is
about a quarter of an
inch
the
long,
men
abdo-
twice as long as
wide, and blunt at both
ends
(fig.
twice
The
447).
legs
pair of
first
are
long as the
as
body, the second a
fourth shorter (fig.
The
446).
legs are
darker
toward the ends. The
bright green,
cephalothorax
is
green,
with a darker stripe in
the middle and one on
each side.
part
is
of
the
The upper
abdomen
silver white, with a
dark line through the
middle, giving off four
pairs of branches at the
Fig. 44S.
Argiope riparia in the middle of the web.
Natural
size.
At the
abdomen
sides.
sides of
the
are yel-
low stripes extending
downward, and toward the hinder end two bright copper-red
The colors of the under side are as bright as those
spots.
THE EPEIRID/E
193
above and are more plainly seen as the sp ider hangs
The
web.
basal joints of the
legs are light in color,
sternum and mouth parts dark. The abdo
darker from front to back, where it is
around the spinnerets.
is
men
is
in
its
and the
green,
almost black
In the middle
a large double spot of bright copp
red,
and the red spots
body show
at the
end
of
from below as
plainly
as
from above, and around the middl
spot are several small spots of bright
The
yellow.
and spines of
hairs
legs are so fine that they do not
On
affect the general color.
side
of
the
femur
fourth leg there
of
th
much
the front
the
a fringe
is
of long hairs extending half
its
The males
length.
are
half as large as the females,
with longer and more slender legs and palpi, and the
same
small
The webs
colors.
nearly
hole
in
are
with
horizontal,
the
a
center,
and under the round web
is
often
web.
a
large
irregular
The round web may
be a foot
in diameter, or
small as hardly to cover the
•"iGS.
may be so
spider.
The
it
webs have a large number
of rays,
the spirals are very close together, as
gibbcrosa
(fig.
413).
The smooth
in
circular
449, 450.
riparia.
Argi-
— 449,
female.
450, male
enlarged twice.
and
the
central
and very regularly woven, show
trace of the beginning of the temporary
is
ope
webs
of Epeira
web
part of the
ing
usually
spirals,
no
and
THE COMMON SPIDERS
194
between
is
it
and the sticky
circles there
is
a wide space in which
nothing but the bare rays.
Argiope riparia.
— This
and the next species are among the
It
and most conspicuous of the round-web spiders.
lives among grass and low bushes in open fields and meadows,
It matures
especially along the borders of ponds and ditches.
largest
Middle of web of Argiops riparia, natural size. The large inner spiral ends at h
and the outer spiral at a. At f, r, are thickened spots on the rays where the inner
spiral was attached while the web was making.
Fic. 451.
Large females
are nearly an inch long, with the front legs longer than the body
The cephalothorax is nearly as wide as long and
(fig. 449).
in the
northern states about the
first
of August.
covered with silvery white hairs, except around the eyes.
The
front legs are entirely black, and the others are black, except
the femora, which are light red or yellow.
The abdomen
is
THE EPEIRID/E
behind and square
in front, with two small
There is a black stripe in the middle
the abdomen, narrowed between the humps and widened in
oval, a little pointed
humps
of
195
at the corners.
the middle, where
Fig. 452.
includes two pairs of yellow spots.
it
Rudimentary web
of the female at the left
male Argiope riparia of the natural
shows the difference between the webs
of
Along
size.
Part of the
of the
two sexes.
web
the sides are two bright yellow bands or rows of irregular spots.
The
color underneath is black, with a yellow stripe on the
sternum and two wide yellow stripes on the abdomen, with
small
yellow
spots between
differ considerably
and
at
from the adults.
the
sides.
Until nearly
The young
full
grown
Till-:
196
COMMON SPIDERS
the legs are distinctly marked with dark rings on the ends
and middle
of each joint.
When
very young the abdomen
is
and the markings gray, without the
The male (fig. 450) is
of
the adult.
yellow
and
black
strong
slender, the color
Fig. 453.
Web
is
pale,
of .-Vrgiope riparia in
an oval opening among plants from which the
drawn away by the
leaves have been
spider.
At
the left of the
web
is
a screen of
irregular threads.
only a fourth as long as the female, similarly colored, but with
the markings less distinct and the palpi very large.
In the mid-
summer they live near the webs of the females, where
they make small and imperfect webs of their own (fig. 452).
The females make webs, sometimes two feet in diameter, with
dle of the
THE EPEIRID/E
a zigzag
band
(fig.
448) of white
silk
197
up and down across the
middle, and a round thick spot where the spider stands.
inner spiral of these webs
their diameter
The
452).
(fig.
The
very large, covering a quarter of
is
outer spiral comes very near
but the spider sometimes passes
it,
through the narrow space between
them from one
web
side of the
The web
the other.
to
usually a
is
and on one or both
little inclined,
sometimes has a screen of
irregular threads two or three inches
sides
distant from
are
often
it
453), but these
(fig.
These spiders
absent.
have no nest and stand
in the center of the
the time
all
web
(fig.
448).
Sometimes the spider draws away
the grass and leaves so as to make
an oval opening large enough for
the web (fig. 453).
In September
the
eggs are
laid
in
large
pear-
shaped cocoons with a brown paperlike surface,
hung by threads among
the grass and bushes
(fig.
454).
The
young hatch during the winter and
remain in the cocoon until May. The
adult spiders disappear in October
and probably
all
Argiope transversa.
is
a
little
matures a
Fig. 454.
die before winter.
— This
pointed than that of riparia
is
of Argiope
grass.
Natural
size.
It lives in
about September
white or light yellow, and
marsh
species
smaller than riparia.
little later,
Egg cocoon
riparia in
i.
(fig. 455).
crossed by a
the same places and
The abdomen is more
The ground color is
great number of black
transverse lines, which are sometimes obscured, especially in
THE COMMON SPIDERS
198
young
spiders,
cephalothorax
by a thick covering
is
The
dark markings on the sides show indistinctly.
bands
light yellow, with black
The femora
joint.
The
of silvery-white hairs.
covered with white hairs through which the
of the
at the
legs are
ends and middle of each
legs are sometimes entirely
first
The young have the back entirely
The markings of the under side
white.
The male
are similar to those of riparia.
black.
456)
(fig.
is
colored like the female, but
The
only a fourth as large.
is
legs are yel-
marked with black spots, but have no
It has the same habits as riparia.
It remains in its web later in the season,
and makes a cocoon flattened on the top
low,
rings.
(fig.
458) instead of narrowed to a neck,
like those of riparia.
This species often makes
marsh grass, which
fastens with silk
it
(fig.
its
web
in
draws away and
As
457).
the sur-
rounding grass becomes long and weak,
it
sometimes
a
in
basket
falls
of
enough together
Figs. 455, 456.
versa.'
— 455,
^°'^
t"wice''
to
fastened
firmly
remain standing.
THE GENUS TETRAGNATHA
Argiope transfemale.
away, leaving the web
grass
456,
e"i=^--g«d
^^g Tetragnathas
are slender, usually
straw-colored spiders, living in their webs
among
The legs
water.
long and
abdomen
the cephalothorax narrow, and the
The mandibles are large in both sexes, and in the
the long grass in
are slender,
cylindrical.
meadows and near
males are very long and furnished with long teeth
and along the inner margin.
When
pairing,
at
the end
the male and
THE EPEIRID/E
199
female hold each other by the ends of the mandibles.
are in
two rows nearly equal and
between the
Web
slender in
of
both sexes, and
The eyes
and the distance
lateral pairs varies in different species.
are long and
Fig. 457.
parallel,
in
The
palpi
the males their
Argiope transversa in an opening among marsh grass, covered
above by wilted ends of grass leaves.
proportions differ according to the species.
long and slender, and vary
in
The
legs are also
length from grallator, where the
legs ten times as long as the cephalothorax,
female has the
first
to laboriosa, in
which they are seven times as long.
are generally inclined and
may be
The webs
nearly horizontal or nearly
THE COMMON SPIDERS
200
vertical,
The
The
according to the place where they are made
inner spiral
is
small and has a hole in the middle
spider stands in the
web with
(fig.
459).
(fig.
460).
the legs extended forward
and backward close
other,
except
each
to
the
at
ends,
where they are turned outward (fig. 459).
On account
of their similar size and color,
the species look at
much
alike,
ferences
in
first
sight
but there are
dif-
the arrangement
of the lateral
eyes and the
length of the legs, palpi, and
mandibles.
Tetragnatha grallator
spider grows to
inch
— This
be half an
inch long, with the
an
.
and a
legs
first
The
half.
mandibles of the female are
as long as the cephalothorax,
and those
(figs.
of the
461, 465).
male longer
In both sexes
they are inclined forward, so
as to be nearly horizontal
spread apart at the ends.
Fig. 458.
Egg
cncdon
in
marsh
ot
and
The
Argiope transversa
lateral eyes are near together,
grass.
so that they almost touch, and
the upper row
when seen from above
palpi of both sexes are over
is
nearly straight.
The
one and a half times as long as
the cephalothorax, and in the males sometimes twice as long
(fig.
as
465).
the
The
femur.
patella
The
and
color
tibia together are nearly as
is
sometimes
light
yellow,
long
but
often gray, with a broken middle stripe of darker gray on the
THE
EPEIRID.-E
201
stripes on the cephalothorax.
The abdomen is generally enlarged a little in the front third (fig. 461).
The males are smaller and more slender than the females, with
abdomen, and three
longer legs and mandibles.
Tetragnatha extensa.
— Female
an inch long, with the
abdomen
is
first
leg three-quarters of an inch.
Web
The
shorter than in grallator, about twice as long as
the cephalothorax, and not as
Fig. 459.
a quarter to three-eighths of
much widened
of Tetragnatha in tansy plants, sho\
in front (fig. 462).
.1
ii-.
usual position.
The mandibles are two-thirds as long as the cephalothorax and
The lateral eyes are near together.
not much inclined forward.
The colors are often dark, dull yellow brown or gray, with
THE COMMON SPIDERS
202
three
on the cephalothorax and
lines
a middle dark
stripe
on the abdomen, with a light silvery stripe on each side.
The male is smaller and more slender, with the legs longer.
The male palpi are one-half longer than the cephalothorax, the
femur forming nearly half its length (fig. 466).
Tetragnatha
laboriosa.
shorter legs and
Fig. 400.
1 lie
—A
little
smaller
mandibles, the latter
than cxtoisa,
short
enough
same web shown in hig. 459, treated so as to show
and the hole in the middle of the web.
female to be almost vertical
(fig.
463).
The abdomen
with
in
the
>pinil
is
pro-
portionally longer than in cxtcjisa, usually in the females three
THE EPEIRID^
203
\//]
kiN>
m
ill
461, grallator.
Figs. 465, 466.
Backs
464
463
462
Figs. 461, 462, 463, 464.
of females of four species of Tetragnatha.
462, extensa.
463, laboriosa.
464, straminea.
Cephalothoiax, mandible, and palpus of males.
grallator.
466, Tetragnatha extensa.
— 465, Tetragnatha
THE COMMON SPIDERS
204
The
times as long as the cephalothorax.
eyes
is
a
little
of
curved, so that the lateral pairs of eyes are as far
apart as the middle ones
yellow.
legs are about
first
The upper row
seven times as long as the cephalothorax.
The abdomen
(fig.
is
The general color is light
with some indistinct
467).
silvery white,
markings
gray
along
the
middle, and dark stripes on
the under side. In the males
the mandibles
(fig.
467) are
compared with the
other species, and are about
short
two-thirds
as
long as the
cephalothorax, and the tibia
is
very
little
longer than the
patella.
Tetragnatha straminea.
—A
quarter to three-eighths of
an inch long, about the same
size
same
Figs. 467, 46S.
Cephalothorax, mandibles, and
palpus of male.
467, Tetragnatha laboriosa.
—
46S, Tetragnatha straminea.
as
longer than
and the
male palpi
is
(fig.
The
(fig.
in
lateral
and the
legs, palpi,
and mandibles are
farther apart than the middle pairs
the abdomen
laboriosa,
color.
all
a little
laboriosa,
eyes
are
In the males
464).
shorter and smaller, and the legs longer.
The
468) are one and a half times the length of
the cephalothorax.
In females the abdomen
is
usually three
times as long as the cephalothorax and more slender than in
laboriosa.
THE
OR CRIBELLATA
CINIFLONID.E,
This group comprises several families that
greatly
form
in
and
but
habits,
agree
differ
having
in
peculiar spinning organs, different from those of
They have the usual
the other spiders.
and
the cribellum
in addition
spinning organ, close
->
469), a
(fig.
all
six spinnerets
fiat,
wide
in front of the other spinnerets
V
:/j^
and
covered
with
finer spinning
tubes.
469
Figs. 469, 470.
trum
— 469, cribellum.
of
Amaurobius
470, calamis-
organ they have on
sylvestris.
the
calamistrum
(fig.
Besides this
additional spinning
470), a
row
hind legs the
of hairs that
used to
is
draw out a loose band of silk from the spinnerets.
Most of our species belong to the genera Dictyna and
Amaurobius and resemble Tegenaria (pp. 96-99) in
their feet with three claws, in the arrangement of the
eyes,
and
in their
The
general form and color.
belong to the small and peculiar genera
others
Filistata,
Hyptiotes, and Uloborus.
THE GENUS DICTYNA
The Dictynas
are
all
small spiders, not more
than a sixth of an inch in
470
length,
but
open
are
brightly colored and
live in
webs
where they cannot
fail to
be seen by any one
205
in
places,
THE COMMON SPIDERS
2o6
They are not easily frightened, and so
their habits can be more easily watched than those of many
The heads are high, arching up from the eyes to
larger kinds.
the highest part opposite the first legs (fig. 476). The eyes are
who
looks for spiders.
Fig. 471.
Webs of Dictyna on the side of a house. The nests were in the groove
between the boards, and the webs radiated irregularly from them, crossing each
other in all directions so as to appear like parts of one web.
higher and the front of the head
Amaurobius
(fig.
is
The head
489).
more nearly
is
about half as wide as the
thorax and distinctly marked off from
colored.
The abdomen
on a gray ground, as
is
in
vertical than in
it and usually lighter
sometimes marked with light yellow
Amaurobius, or with a light middle
THE CINIFLONIU^, OR CRIBELLATA
stripe of various shapes, bordered with
The whole body
is
brown or gray
large for the size of the spiders
seen just
is
in front of
the fourth metatarsus.
The
The
cribellum
The calamistrum
covers about half the length of
peculiarities of the species of these
W^eb of Dictyna
of both sexes are long
(fig.
it
more strongly marked
Fig. 472.
487).
and can generally be plainly
the other spinnerets.
not so easy to see, but
spiders are
(fig.
covered with fine hairs, and there are often
long white hairs in rows on the cephalothorax.
is
207
and a
in the males.
in the corner of a
little
The mandibles
window pane.
curved forward
at the
ends
476), but in the males they are sometimes so long that the
distance from the ends of the mandibles to the top of the head
is
as great as the length of the cephalothorax, and the lower ends
are turned forward at a sharp angle with the upper part.
mandibles of the males are curved apart
in the middle,
The
and they
have
at the
The
palpi of the males have a process on the tibia, usually
base a short tooth projecting forward
near the base, on the end of which are two spines
(fig.
(fig.
477).
478).
THE COMMON SPIDERS
2o8
There
is
not
much
difference in size between the sexes, but they
are often very differently colored, and the males do not have
the cribellum and calamistrum, or have only rudiments of them.
Some
that
making large webs
become conspicuous from
the
dust which they collect.
species live on walls and fences,
Others prefer the tops of plants
like stiff grass
and the tops of
golden-rod and spiraea. Others,
like
volupis
(fig.
474), prefer
leaves and the ends of growing
branches.
The webs
irregular,
but
nearly round
and formed by
threads radiating
spider's
hole,
are usually
sometimes are
from
crossed
the
irregu-
by other threads (fig. 471).
This species
Dictyna volupis.
larly
—
and frondea are b'-ighter
colored and more slender
than muraria and voliicripes
(fig.
484) and live
leaves of bushes.
among the
The female
volupis has the legs pale,
almost white, and the cephalothorax light brown, darker at
Fig. 473
Web
of
Dictyna on the
end of a twig.
the sides and light on the head
(fig.
474).
The abdomen
is
yellow in the middle and brown, sometimes red, at the sides.
The middle yellow portion forms a regular figure differing
much in different individuals. The male is quite differently
colored.
The cephalothorax, which is larger, is bright orange
brown, without much difference between the head and the
THE CINIFLONID^, OR CRIBELLATA
sides
(fig.
209
The legs are light orange, darker than those
The abdomen is dark reddish brown, some-
475).
of the female.
times over the whole back, but usually with a yellow irregular
The ends of the
middle spot smaller than that of the female.
male palpi are dark colored and as large as the spider's head
The hairs are very fine and light colored and do
(fig. 475).
not modify the color as
The
length
volupis
of
is
as they do in the
brown
species.
over an
not
The abdomen
eighth of an inch.
and not
much
is
oval
as
wide or high
as in vobicri-
pcs and vuiraria.
The head
male
of the
is
high, and the
mandibles
most
al-
as long
as the cepha-
lothorax
half
is
(fig.
The lower
476).
turned sharply forward
and flattened out
The mandibles
at the end.
are light orange
brown, so that their shape
more
is
readily seen than in the
The
dark species.
tooth on
the front of the base of the
mandibles
is
very large
Dictyna frondea.
mistaken for
it.
— This
It is
inch long, and there
legs are pale,
head.
a
in
476
Figs. 474, 475, 476, 477, 478. Dictyna volupis.
Both enlarged
474, female.
475, male.
eight times. 476, side of male. 477, front
of head of male enlarged sixteen times, showing curved mandibles. 478, palpus of male.
—
this
species
little
is less
is
477).
is
likely to
difference between the sexes.
gray
be
smaller, not over a tenth of an
and the cephalothorax
The abdomen
(fig.
resembles volupis and
at
light
The
brown, lighter on the
the sides, not as red as in
THE COMMON SPIDERS
2IO
volupis,
and the middle
bright yellow
(fig.
light stripe
narrower and not as
is
The sternum and under side of the
479).
abdomen are gray, as dark as the upper
part and sides, while in volupis they are
The males have
generally lighter.
the
cephalothorax larger, and that and the legs
a little brighter colored
than in the female,
The mandibles
and the abdomen darker.
are not as long as in the male volupis, and
the
ends
male palpi are much
the
of
smaller and the tibia longer and straighter
than
in volupis (fig. 481).
Dictyna cruciata.
— About
inch long, with the
oval, as
nuiraria.
in
a tenth of an
abdomen large and
The cephalothorax
brown above and below, and the
legs the same color, but still lighter. The
abdomen is gray beneath and at the sides,
and silvery white on the back, sometimes
light
is
over the whole upper surface, but oftener
Figs. 479, 480, 481.
— 479,
frondea.
of the
Dictyna
markings
widened
in a stripe
the
middle
so
as
in
to
abdomen enlarged
eight times.
480, cephalo-
thorax andip;
palpus of male.
palpus of male.
481, palpui
form a white cross on
^
&
crrouud
J'
tr.
The males
colored, with the light spot on the
smaller.
The male
slender, the
palpi
are
482).
& t
/
(fig.
V
are darker
abdomen
short
and
ends large and rounded and
carried close to the head
Dictyna volucripes
and
Figs. 482, 4S3.
cruciata.
(fig.
muraria.
483).
— These two
Dictj'na
— 4S2, female
enlarged eight times.
483, cephalothorax and
palpi.
gray spiders are the
walls
they
common Dictynas on
and fences and on the ends of grass and weeds, where
to the places where they
make webs shaped according
THE CINIFLONID/E, OR CRIBELLATA
live,
having
some
in
usually hides
(fig.
web
part of the
Some
473).
I
a hole in which the spider
allied species
webs on
cular
21
make
nearly
cir-
walls, with the hole
much
near the center, and gather so
dust as to appear like a spot of dirt
4^*^
]\^lHcripcs is
of
an
inch
viuraria
an
eighth
browner
alike.
fences.
is
an
of
and
inch.
common
more commarked much
grayer and
Both species are
The cephalothorax
about a
is
length,
in
and more
in color
on plants, and miiraiia
mon on
Voh(cripes
471).
(fig.
sixth
is
dark brown, partly
covered with light gray hairs, some of which
in
The
some
The
front
form roughly three stripes on the head.
abdomen
is
large
and
round,
females nearly as wide as long.
half
has a middle dark
shapes, and the
Figs. 4S4 48^ 4S6
tyna volucnpes
female enlarged
hmder
spot
half
of
various
two rows of
Die
— 4S4,
eight
male
palpus of Dictjiia volu
tibn of
cripeb
4S6
male pilpus of Dict>na
times
4S!; tibia of
mm 11 11
spots connected in
Fig. 487.
Varieties of marking on the
abdomen
of
Dictyna muraria.
pairs with a middle
forming a figure much like the markings of several
The legs are dark gray or
species of Epeira (figs. 484, 487).
line,
brown, covered with fine
hairs, the first pair not
much
longer
THE COMIMON SPIDERS
212
than the body.
In the females the mandibles are a
ened in the middle.
little thick-
In the male they are elongated and turned
forward at the ends and curved apart in the middle, and have a
small tooth on the front near the base.
Fig. 48S.
Web
of
The
Amaurobius
sylvestiis
The
palpi of the males
on a rough conglomerate rock.
spider had a nest in a crack at one side.
485, 486) are short, with the patella as wide as it is long
and wider than the femur and tibia. The tarsus is half longer
(figs.
than wide and pointed at the end.
In the tibia there
is
a little
difference between the species that can be seen by looking at
the palpi from the side
;
in volucripcs there is a stout
process
THE
at
CINIFL(3NID/E,
the base as long as the tibia
is
tionally longer
is
itself
21
and pointing upward
at a
485) in muraria the corresponding proshort and turned forward, and the tibia seems propor-
right angle with
cess
OR CRIBELLATA
it
(fig.
;
The
486).
(fig.
cribellum in both these species
large and can easily
be seen
in front of the
The
other spinnerets.
calamistrum extends
over half the length of
the fourth metatarsus,
which
in
volncripes
is
slightly curved.
Amaurobius
— This
is
sylvestris.
common
the
Amaurobius
the
northern
the country.
part
of
resem-
It
our species of Tegenaria
bles
228, 233) and
for
over
all
them.
may
(figs.
easily be mistaken
does not have long
It
upper spinnerets
like Tegenaria,
and
the eyes are lower on the front of the
The females
head.
(fig.
489) are
inch long, and the
two-fifths of an
males a third of an inch, but with
much
The head
longer legs.
.
.
female
is
of the Figs.
•
1
1
almost as wide as the mid-
die of the thorax,
half its width.
cover
and the eyes
'
The
front
row
489,490.
— 4^9'
Amaurobius
processes of the tibia.
of eyes
are within their diameter of the front of the head.
is
low
in front
dorsal groove.
sylves-
female enlarged four
times.
490, male palpus without
*^^ terminal joint to show the
*"^-
The head
and higher halfway between the eyes and the
The mandibles
are
much
swelled at the base in
front, as they are in Tegenaria medicinalis.
The abdomen
is
THE COMMON SPIDERS
214
oval, widest behind,
The
or longer.
and usually as long as the cephalothorax
more than
legs are not
a fourth longer than
The
the body, and slender for so large a spider.
rax
cephalotho-
dark brown, darkest in front, and the legs are a
is
The abdomen
lighter brown, without markings.
row
a double
is
little
gray, with
of oblique yellow or
white markings on the hinder half
and two curved marks
color on
the front.
of the same
These spots
sometimes run together, so that the
whole middle of the abdomen
The males have
light colored.
is
the
head narrower and the thorax wider
Fresh part of the web
Fig. 4gi.
of
Amaurobius
and
the legs
all
longer
than the
sylvestris.
female, and the cephalothorax and
The male
mandibles are not so dark colored.
patella as short as wide,
and the
tibia
palpi have the
very short and wide, with
a short hook on the outer and a longer and more slender one
on the inner
a
side, as
the
from
in
The epigynum has
490.
fig.
by two
meet behind, and by
middle lobe inclosed
small
lateral lobes that
this
shown
the
female
next
fcrox.
The
that
is
can
be
species,
distinguished
— Amaurobius
(fig. 469) is sometimes covered by a fold of the skin, so
it
cribellum
not readily seen.
The
cala-
mistrum
(fig.
470) is a close row of
curved hairs on the upper side of the
fourth
metatarsus, about half
cribellum
is
its
Fig. 492. Tibial joint of male
.\maurobius ferox for comparison with that of Amaurobius sylvestris
length.
rudimentary, and there
is
In the
(fig.
490).
male the
no calamistrum.
This spider makes a large loose web under stones and sticks
(fig.
488).
In the parts freshly
made
the loose bands of silk can
be seen running irregularly about on the other threads
(fig.
491).
THE CINIFLONIDyE, OR CRIBELLATA
Amaurobius
ferox.
— This
imported species, as
a
it
lives
houses and
the head
a
is
little
The
of the legs.
probably an
is
Europe.
in
larger than sylvestris
little
much
in
more common
is
215
It
grows
489), and
(fig.
more narrowed
in front
and markings are
colors
but the abdomen
as in sylvestris,
is
often darker, and the middle light stripe on
more
front
the
has a
larger
The epigynum
distinct.
middle lobe, and the
lobes are straighter and do not
The males
middle.
females
the
and
have
longer.
legs
colored
are
the
The
meet
thorax
palpi
of
have the tarsus short and round.
lateral
in the
like
wider
the
and
the
male
The
tibia
492) has only a small short hook on the
inner side, and a large blunt process on the
(fig.
The male
outcr sidc.
Fig. 493. Amaurobius
americana, enlarged
palpi
and the epigynum
thcSC easily
from the laSt SpCcicS.
distinguish
i
^
j
(Titanceca)
americana.
Quarter
Amaurobius
tour times.
—
of an inch long
thorax, which
and deep black, except the cephalo-
is
dull
orange
color, but covered, like
the rest of the body, with long black hairs
(fig.
493).
Some
individuals have a
few light gray spots
in pairs
on the
abdomen. The shape
of the cephalothorax
and abdomen are
Amaurobius
tris,
like
sylves-
and the legs are
same proporlength and
stouter.
The palpi
of the
tional
of the female
have the
Fig. 494.
showmg
Female Uloborus plumipes, enlarged eight times,
the tuft of hairs on the front legs and the cala-
mistrum on the fourth
tibia
legs.
and tarsus a
little
thickened.
The
THE COMMON SPIDERS
2l6
metatarsus of the fourth legs has the calamistrum more distinct
than in others of the family, and the metatarsus appears thicker
up and down than
particularly the
it is
The male has
sidewise.
which the
first pair, of
the legs longer,
and metatarsus are
tibia
more elongated than the other joints, and have many small
spines on the under side.
The male palpi have the tarsus
Horizontal web of Uloboius near the ground, one side attached
spiral is finished over only half the diameter of the web.
Fig. 495.
to
The outer
tree.
loose silk runs across the web,
figure
is
about the real
and
in the
middle
is
a fallen
A
a peculiar zigzag spiral.
line of
The
size.
large and round, supported by a wide and very complicated
tibia.
It
lives
under stones
Uloborus plumipes.
of the Epeiridae,
gnatha.
The
and narrow
is
in
Tetragnatha.
is
it
like those
resembles a Tetra-
about a quarter of an inch long,
The cephalothorax
front and extends forward, in the middle,
and the back part
and dryest places.
makes a round web,
and when hanging
adult female
like
in the hottest
— Uloborus
-
is
low
in
beyond the mandibles,
widened and swelled up on each side
I
THE CINIFLONID^, OR CRIBELLATA
217
where the abdomen extends over it (fig. 494). The abdomen
is slightly notched in front and covers the cephalothorax a
The abdomen is widest and thickest in
quarter of its length.
The eyes are
the front third and has there a pair of humps.
in two rows, those of the upper
row largest and on the top of
the head, with the lateral pair
The
farthest back.
front
row
are on the edge of the head
close to the mandibles.
The
first
pair of legs is the longest
and
is
twice as long as the
second.
It
has at the end of
the tibia a brush of long coarse
The
hairs.
colors are various
shades of brown, from
almost black.
to
light
very
The
cephalothorax has a light mid-
The
dle stripe.
legs have the
joints light in the middle
and
black at the ends, except the
first leg,
which sometimes has
the tarsus and
metatarsus
white, and the rest of the leg
dark brown.
The fourth meta-
is curved in on the outer
where the calamistrum is
The male is smaller
placed.
tarsus
side,
Fig. 496. Web of young Uloborus in a raspberry bush.
The lower half of the web
is much wider than the upper.
A band of
silk runs across the middle and draws up
with it some of the lower spirals.
Half
the real size.
than the female, the legs are longer, the abdomen
and
is
smaller
humped, the first legs do not have the
brushes on the tibia, and the fourth legs do not have the calamistrum. The webs resemble those of Epeira and Tetragnatha,
and are horizontal or inclined. They are often left unfinished,
less
distinctly
THE COMMON SPIDERS
211
with several turns of the wide temporary spiral
(fig.
in
still
them
Sometimes there are zigzag lines of loose silk across
495).
the center or in a middle spiral,
and when the eggs are
laid the
long cocoons are fastened in a
web
line of silk across the
497).
When
this
is
done the
center of the radii of the
is
(fig.
web
usually at the upper part,
instead of in the middle, and
the whole
It is
Fig. 497.
Web
of old uioborus.
The
spider
is in the middle and at the left are three
egg cocoons. One-third the real size.
web
all
is
one-sided.
over the coun-
usually in shady woods,
try,
in
found
bushes,
or
in
the
lower
branches of trccs, especially
in the loWCr
dead
'^
branches of pines.
Hyptiotes cavatus.
— This peculiar
spider resem-
and color the end of one of the
dead pine branches among which it
It is a sixth of an inch long.
lives.
bles in shape
The cephalothorax
is
as
^
U
wide as long,
highest in the middle, and hollowed
behind under the abdomen.
men
is
The
oval, thickest behind,
abdo-
and
flat-
tened in front, and has on the back
four pairs of slight elevations, on which
are a few
stiff
hairs
(fig.
498).
The
and thickest in the midThe
tapering toward the claws.
legs are short
dle,
Fig. 498, 499.
Hyptiotes cavatus.
enlarged eight
times.
499, end of hind leg,
showing calamistrum.
— 498,
female
hind metatarsi are curved in at the
calamistrum
(fig.
499).
The
eyes are arranged as in Uioborus,
but are farther apart and farther back on the cephalothorax.
THE CINIFLONID/E, OR CRIBELLATA
219
The male is half as large as the female, the abdomen
and the humps lower.
The web (fig. 500) consists of four rays crossed by
The point where the rays meet is
or more threads.
Ik;. 500.
to a thread
of a twig.
Webs
of
Hyptiotes in the top of a bush.
which extends
Here
it
a dozen
attached
real size.
to the spider's roost, usually the
end
holds on by the hind feet and draws the
thread tight with the fore feet.
web
Half the
smaller,
When
an insect strikes the
the spider lets go with the hind feet and
ward by the contraction
of the
web, and
slides
is
jerked for-
along toward
its
THE COIVIMON SPIDERS
220
and takes it out of the web to its
web has been described by Wilder
The cross threads are
in the Popular Science MontJdy in 1875.
made separately, beginning with the longest. They are begun
center,
where
it
finds the prey
The making
perch.
of this
on the upper
ray, the spider
walking toward
combing out the threads with its
until it reaches a point where it
the center,
hind legs,
can cross to the next.
It is
found
all
over
the country, usually in the pine woods.
Filistata hibernalis.
I
\-|I
mon house
— One
of the
most com-
spiders in the southern states,
making webs
in corners
and on walls and
Vil
fences
fi
If I
an inch long, but the legs are so long and
(fig.
that
stout
501).
appears
it
which
first leg,
The body
is
much
the longest,
larger.
The
about twice
is
The
the length of the body.
about half
is
palpi are as
long as the cephalothorax and thicker than
/|^v
1
I
front of
I
palpi,
is flat
web
is
maxillae are inclined
the
labium.
and narrowed
The cephalothorax
in front
between the
and the mandibles are small.
one
group,
close
The
together.
eyes
are
in
The
color
is
ings,
and the whole body is covered with
The calamistrum is very
short hairs.
fine
Fig. 501. Filistata hibernalis, enlarged twice.
The
most spiders.
in
toward each other so that they meet in
dark gray, without any mark-
and near the base of the fourth metaThe
tarsus, where it can easily be seen.
short,
from the spider's
wall forms sometimes
like that of Dictyna, radiating irregularly
hiding place, and
a circle a foot or
dust and
is
when
more
this
in
is
on a
flat
diameter, which becomes
filled
enlarged and thickened as the spider grows.
with
INDEX
Abdomen,
the
body,
Acrosoma,
posterior
half
of
the
Bathyphantes, see under Linyphia, 143,
X.
145-
i8S.
mitrata, iSg.
Bites of spiders,
viii.
Breathing holes,
x.
rugosa, 189.
spinea, 190.
Adult characters of spiders,
Agalena naevia, 93.
xi.
Caelotes, see under Tegenaria, 99.
Agalenidae, 91.
Calamistrum, 205.
Catalogue of American spiders,
Age
Cephalothorax,
of spiders, xv.
Agroeca pratensis,
Ceratinalla fissiceps, 152.
11.
Air-sacs, x.
Air-tubes,
laetabilis, 151.
Ceratinopsis interpres, 153.
x.
Amaurobius americana,
215.
ferox, 215.
of spiders,
Anyphasna
Chiracanthium
viride, 21.
Ciniflionidae, 205.
Claws,
sylvestris, 213.
Anatomy
viii.
viii.
viii-xi.
calcarata, 13.
incerta, 12.
X.
Clubiona, 15.
canadensis, 17.
crassipalpis, 16.
rubra, 13.
excepta, 19.
saltabunda, 14.
ornata, 18.
Argiope, 194.
cocoons
rubra, 18.
of,
197, 200.
tibialis, 16.
riparia, 194.
Cobwebs,
transversa, 198.
Cocoons,
webs
Colors,
of, 192, 194, 196, 199.
Argyrodes, 123.
fictilium, 126.
nephilae, 125.
trigonum, 124.
xvi.
xiv.
xi.
Coriarachne depressa,
Cornicularia directa, 152.
Coxa, the
first
Argyroepeira hortorum, 191.
Ariadne bicolor, 123.
Crab
Asagena
Cribellum, 205.
aniericana, 122.
34.
versicolor, 34.
joint of the leg,
viii.
spiders, see Thomisida?, 24.
Cribellata, 205.
Attidae, 41.
Cyclosa conica, 183.
Attus palustris, 42.
Cyrba
ta;niola, 63.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
222
Daddy
longlegs, see Pholcus, 128.
Dendryphantes,
Epeira pratensis, 167.
sclopetaria, 160, 161.
53, 54.
aestivalis, 54.
scutulata, 178.
militaris, 53.
silvatica, 164.
Dew on
cobwebs, 107, 108.
stellata, 179.
Dictyna, 206-211.
strix, 160, 161.
cruciata, 210.
thaddeus, 170.
frondea, 210.
triaranea, see globosa, 173, 174.
volucripes, 211.
trifolium, 171, 172.
volupis, 209.
trivittata, 166.
Diplostyla, see under Linyphia, 147.
= Linyphia concolor, 147.
= Linyphia nigrina, 147.
verrucosa, 181.
concolor
Epeiridae,
nigrina
Epiblemum scenicum,
Dolomedes sexpunctatus,
Epigynum,
85.
autumnalis, 151.
viii.
Drapetisca socialis
=
Linyphia
dentigera, 149.
socialis,
longipalpis, 149.
145-
Drassida;,
Ero
i.
Drassus saccatus,
Dysdera
60.
xi.
Erigone, 148.
tenebrosus, 87.
Dorsal groove,
54.
1
thoracica, 132.
Euryopis funebiis, 127.
6.
interrita, 22.
Eyes of
spiders,
ix.
Dysderidae, a family of spiders with six
Feet,
eyes, 22.
X.
Femur,
Ebo
Eggs of
viii.
Filistata hibernalis, 220.
latithorax, 37.
spiders, xiv.
Flat webs,
134;
see
Agalenidae, 91:
Linyphia, 100.
Epeira, 160-180.
angulata, 164.
Flower spiders, see Misumena,
caudata or conica, see Cyclosa, 1S3.
Flying spiders, Erigone, 151.
Lycosa, 68.
cinerea, 165.
corticaria, 165.
directa, see Larinia directa, 1S2.
Geotrecha
domiciliorum, see trivittata, 167.
gibberosa, 175, 176.
conspersa,
Gossamer,
insularis, 169.
Ground
labyrinthea, 174.
3.
2.
149.
spiders, Lycosida;, 67.
Drassidae,
i.
insularis, 169.
nordmanni, 163.
parvula, 179.
patagiata, 160, 161.
placida, 176.
7.
Gnaphosa brumalis,
globosa, 173.
marmorea, see
bivittata, 8.
crocata,
displicata, 172.
Habrocestum auratum,
43, 44.
peregrinum, 45.
splendens, 46.
Hahnia bimaculata,
105.
25.
.
INDEX
Lycosa ocreata,
Hahnia, cinerea, 106.
Hairs,
']'].
polita, 70.
xi.
pratensis, 69.
Ilasarius hoyi, 63, 64.
Head, viii.
Helophora
223
scutulata, 76.
see
insignis,
Linyphia
Lycosidae, 67.
in-
Lyssomanes
signis, 146.
House spiders, xii.
Hunting spiders, xv.
Maevia
Hyctia
Male
piivei,
62.
viridis, 65.
vittata, 59.
spiders,
xi.
Hyptiotes cavatus, 218.
Mandibles,
Icius elegans, 57, 58.
Markings,
mitratus, 57.
Marptusa
palmarum,
Marx, George,
viii.
of Tetragnatha, 203, 204.
56.
xi.
familiaris, 61.
Jumping
Metatarsus,
x.
Larinia directa, 182.
longipes,
8.
8.
Mimetus interfector,
Misumena, 25.
viii.
Linyphia, 134.
bucculenta
190.
viii.
Micaria aurata,
Latrodectus mactans, 122, 123.
Legs,
=
132.
trilineata, 143.
Names of spiders,
Neon nellii, 47.
coccinea, 140.
communis,
North
viii.
Maxillas, x.
spiders, see Attidas, 41.
Meta menardi,
Labium,
of spiders of
list
America,
138.
concolor, 147.
Nests of spiders,
insignis, 146.
Number
mandibulata, 139.
marginata, 136.
Ocyale undata, 88.
Qxyopes
minuta, 144.
nebulosa, 143.
'
vii.
xiv.
of spiders,
vii.
salticus, 88.
viridans, 89, 90.
nigrina, 147.
phrygiana, 141, 143.
Palpal organ,
socialis, 145.
Palpi,
trilineata, 143.
Pardosa, 78.
albomaculata
Linyphiads, 134.
Lungs, X.
Lycosa carolinensis,
xi.
viii.
=
greenlandica, 79.
albopatella, 83.
73, 74.
brunnea
=
glacialis, 80.
cinerea, 73, 74.
glacialis, 80.
communis,
greenlandica, 79.
75.
kochii, 74.
lapidicina, 78.
nidicola, 69.
montana
nidifex, 70, 72, 73.
nigropalpis, 82.
=
tachypoda, 8 1
.
THE COMMON SPIDERS
2 24
Pardosa
Steatoda triangulosa, 121.
pallida, 8i.
Stemonyphantes,
tachypoda, 8i
Patella,
Linyphia
see
trili-
neata, 143.
viii.
Pellenes, see Ilabrocestum, 44-46.
Oxyopes
Peucetia, see
Phalangium,
viiidans, 89, 90.
Sternum,
x.
Synemosyna,
64.
12S.
Phidippus multiformis, 48, 49.
mystaceus,
Tarantula,
50.
tripunctatus, 51.
Tarsus,
Philodromus, 35.
Lycosa
see
viii.
Tegejiaria, 96-103.
lineatus, 37.
ornatus, 36.
complicata, 102.
pictus, 37.
derhamii, 96-98.
vulgaris, 35.
longitarsus, 102, 104.
Pholcus phalangioides, 128, 129.
medicinalis, 99.
Tetragnatha, 198-204.
cornutus, 130.
Phrurolithus alarius,
extensa, 201.
9, 10.
Pirata piraticus, 84.
Plexippus puerperus,
grallator, 200.
laboriosa, 202.
52.
Poecilochroa variegata,
straminea, 204.
4.
Thanatus coloradensis,
bilineata, 4.
Poison of spiders,
Prosthesima
5.
Theridium, no.
5.
Pythonissa imbecilla,
differens, 114.
3.
frondeum, 116, 117.
globosum, 1 13.
155-159-
murarium,
Salticus scenicus, see
Scales,
Epiblemum
sceni-
1
5.
spirale, 116.
tepidariorum, in, 112.
60.
unimaculatum, 118.
xi.
Scytodes thoracica, 131.
Sight of spiders,
verecundum
variabilis, 187.
x.
=
Theridula sphserula, 127, 128.
Thomisids,
Thorax,
24.
viii.
Spintharus flavidus, 127.
Tibellus duttonii, 39.
Spiral threads of cobwebs, 155-159.
Tibia,
Steatoda borealis, 119.
Titanaeca, see
corollata, 121.
Latrodectus mac-
tans, 122.
ix.
Singa pratensis, 186.
Spinnerets,
1
rupicola, 113.
Saitis pulex, 43.
cum,
39, 40.
lycosoides, 39, 40.
Therididas, 107.
viii.
atra,
ecclesiastica,
Round cobwebs,
carolinensis,
74-
7?,^
viii.
Amaurobius americana,
215.
guttata, 120.
Tmarus caudatus,
marmorata, 120.
Tracheae,
x.
38.
INDEX
Trachelas ruber,
Trochanter,
19, 20.
viii.
225
Xysticus nervosus, 32.
quadrilineatus,
;^t,.
stomachosus, 30.
Uloborus plumipes, 216, 217.
triguttatus, ^^.
versicolor, 34.
\Vinter habits of sliders, xv.
Zilla,
Xysticus, 30.
184-186.
atrica, 185.
gulosus, 31.
montana,
limbatus, 31.
x-notata, 186.
186.
•8
6 5
7
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