LATHRODECTUS. 



237 



Genus LATHRODECTUS, Walck. 



Lathrodectus, Walck. Tabl. Aran. p. 81, 1805 ; Simon, Hist. Xat. 

 Araign. i, p. 668, 1894. 



Carapace normal in form, with clypeus equal in height to the 

 ocular area ; lateral eyes widely separated. Mandibles weak, 

 unarmed. Legs long; superior claws toothed almost to apex. 

 Abdomen large, globular. 



Type, L. 13-guttatus, Walck. 



Distribution. Tropical and subtropical countries. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



a. Prevailing colour black, with crimson dorsal 



stripe L. hasseltii, p. 237. 



b. Prevailing colour yellowish or silvery, no 



crimson stripe , L. geometricus, p. 238. 



269. Lathrodectus hasseltii, Thorell, 

 QSfv. K. tin. Vet.-Akad. Fork, xxvii, 

 p.*3G9, 1870. 



Subspecies indicus, Simon, Bull. Mus. 

 Hist. Nat. 1897, p. 97. 



Colour black ; upper side of abdomen 

 ornamented with a broad longitudinal 

 red band with uneven edges extending 

 throughout the posterior two-thirds of 

 its length ; lower side with a small 

 transverse red band in front of the 

 spinners and sometimes one behind the 

 genital fold. Eyes of anterior line 

 subequal, median nearer to each other 

 than to the laterals. Length 10 mm. 



Log. Western India : Karachi, 

 Poona ( WroxKjhton) ; also Muscat. 



Subspecies elegans, Tin, nil. Ann. Mus, 

 (inii, vii, xwi.x. p. 293, L898. 



Differs from the preceding in having 

 the dorsal surface of the abdomen 

 ornamented in front of the longitudinal 

 band with a pair of transverse recurved stripes, the posterior of 

 which is sometimes small and continuous with the median band 

 Length 10 mm. 



Loc. Burma: Karennee (Fea). 



Fig. 80. — Lathrodectus 

 hasseltii, subsp. indicia, 

 X 2. 



