394 ARANEIDEA. 
ANELOSIMUS. 
Anelosimus, E. Simon, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1891, p. 7. 
Type A. socials, E. Simon, =A. evimius (Keyserling). Venezuela. 
The spiders referred to this genus form a small group closely allied to Steatoda, but 
distinguishable from it by the peculiar form of the bulb of the male palpus, and also 
by the possession of a very minute colulus, whose presence is marked by two fine 
bristles springing from its apex. The species at present recognized resemble each 
other very closely in general appearance, and are remarkable for their habit of living 
together in communities, consisting of great numbers of individuals who spin a 
common snare, very tangled and often of immense size. I have myself seen their webs 
spun up to a height of fourteen or fifteen feet amongst the foliage, being at the same 
time a yard or more across, and the snare is usually shared by numbers of a species-of 
Uloborus. If the bushes be tapped, the Theridioids descend in quite a small shower, 
hanging by a thread, to seek safety on the ground. Otherwise, the female sits beneath 
a leaf, with legs stretched out before and behind, in close proximity to her single 
small spherical egg-cocoon. 
The species known to me, including the type of the genus, which has, however, not 
yet been taken in Central America, may be recognized as follows :— 
Males. 
a. Apex of embolus of palpus simple, not bifid; bulb itself more 
spiraloid . see ee ew ew ee we we ww [evimius, Keyserl.] 
b. Apex of embolus of palpus bifid or bibranchiate; bulb itself less 
spiraloid. 
1, Apex of embolus of palpus having a stout inner branch set at right 
angles and much enlarged, forming a triangular hammer-head, 
atits tip. .... 
ee jucundus, O. P.-Cambr, 
2. Apex of embolus of palpus having an enlarged inner branch, but 
not set at right angles nor taking a hammer-head form . . .  studiosus, Hentz. 
females. 
a. Vulva with two closely adjacent brown circular discs anteriorly . . [eximius.] 
b. Vulva without discs anteriorly . . . . . 0. ee ew ew ep ee J ucundus. 
studiosus. 
Norr.—I am unable as yet to satisfactorily distinguish between the females of A. jucundus and A. studiosus. 
1. Anelosimus jucundus. (Tab. XX XVII. figg. 14, 14a-d, 3; 15,15 a, 6, 2.) 
Theridion jucundum, O. P.-Cambr. Biol. Centr.-Amer., Arachn. Aran. i. p. 166, t. 21. figg. 13, 
18 a-d(¢)’. 
Type, ¢, in coll. Godman & Salvin. Total length 4:5 millim. 
Hab. Mexico, Omilteme in Guerrero (H. H. Smith); Guatemata (Sarg). 
