Superfamily Argiopoidea 



Lathy s maculata (L. mac-u-la'ta). — In this species the anterior 

 median eyes are very small, so that the spider appears to be 

 six-eyed. The cephalothorax is pale yellowish; the abdomen 

 whitish with a basal black mark and four rows of transverse dark 

 marks. The species was described by Mr. Banks from specimens 

 taken at Mobile, and at Meridian, Miss. It is the Didyolathus 

 maculata of this author. 



Genus D1CTYNA (Dic-ty'na) 



The sternum extends between the hind coxae; the clypeus 

 is much wider from before backward, than the diameter of 

 the anterior eyes; and the endites are moderately long 

 and convergent (Fig. 261). 



The most familiar of 

 the hackled-band weavers 

 belong to this genus, which 

 is a very large one, includ- 

 ing nearly one hundred 

 species, of which thirty (it- 

 more occur in our fauna. 



Fig. 261. 

 STERNUM OF DICTYNA 



Fig. 262. EGG-SACS OF DICTYNA 



These spiders are of small or moderate size; and the different 

 species show marked differences in habits. The species described 

 below as illustrating the genus have been selected with the view 

 of showing the more striking of these differences. One of them 

 usually builds its webs on the walls of buildings, one in the heads 

 of plants, and one on the surface of leaves. 



280 



