420 



ARACHNIDA 



S. variegatus (Hentz) (Fig. 659). Length 6 mm.; cephalothonfcx 

 bright orange in color and smaller than the abdomen, which is black 

 with 3 white stripes: on the ground. 



FAMILY 6. PHOLCIDAB. 



Eyes either 6 or 8 in number; legs very long, with 

 3 claws on each of the 3 hinder pairs: 6 American 

 genera. 



PHOLCUS Walckenaer. Three large eyes in a group 

 on each side of the head and 2 smaller 

 eyes in the middle; abdomen elongate; 

 cephalothorax flat: 2 American species. 



P. phalangioides (Fuesslin) (Fig. 

 660). Body 6 mm. long; longest legs 5 

 cm. long; color pale brown or gray: a 

 common house spider both in America and in Europe, 

 living in cellars, and making a large, flat, irregular web. 



FAMILY 7. THEBIDIIDAE.* 



Fig. 659 



Sergiolus 



variegatus 



(Emerton). 



_. 660 

 Pholcus 

 phalangioides 

 carrying its 



egg sac 

 (Comstock). 



Usually small, light-colored spiders with a large 

 round abdomen; eyes of about the same size, in 2 rows, 

 with the end eyes near together and the middle eyes 

 farther apart; outer margin of mandibles parallel (ex- 

 cept on Steatoda) ; 3 claws on each leg : web often large, 

 more or less irregular in form and loose in texture, and built in the cor- 

 ners of rooms, on fences and rocks, and between the branches of low 

 trees and bushes, the spider usually staying in the web; about 300 

 American species. 



Key to the genera of Theridiidae here described : 



a t Abdomen smooth and shiny, the hairs being very short 1. STEATODA 



a z Abdomen hairy. 

 &! The paired claws of the legs with a regular series of teeth almost to their 



tip 2. LATHRODECTUS 



6 2 These claws with spreading teeth at their base. 



Cj Abdomen with a high, pointed hump 3. ARGYRODES 



c 2 Abdomen not with a hump. 



di Labium and sternum united 4. SPINTHARUS 



d 2 Labium not united with the sternum. 



d Anterior row of eyes curved 5. THERIDULA 



e a Anterior row of eyes straight 6. THERIDION 



1. STEATODA Sundevall. Abdomen oval, smooth, and shiny; side 

 eyes contiguous; those of the anterior row much larger than the middle 



* See "New England Spiders of the Family Theridiidae," by J. H. Emerton, 

 Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. 6, p. 1, 1882. 



