Superfamily Argiopoidea 



fauna. There are only six eyes, the anterior median being absent. 

 The eyes present are not situated on a prominence, and are 

 arranged in two widely separated groups of three each. The ab- 

 domen is short and rounded. 



Only one species has been described from the United States. 



Spermophora meridianalis (S. me-rid-i-a-na'lis). — The body 

 of the adult female measures about one twelfth inch in length; 

 it is white with a pair of pale gray spots on the thorax and two 

 or three pairs on the abdomen. The legs are long and slender. 



This is a house-spider living in closets, in dark corners, 

 and under furniture. The female carries her mass of eggs about, 

 clinging to them with her chelicerae. 



Genus PHOLCUS (Phol'cus) 



The anterior median eyes are much closer to each other than 



to the anterior lateral 

 eyes. The median 

 ocular area is trapezi- 

 forrri and not at all or 

 not much wider than 

 long. The abdomen 

 is elongate. 



A single common 



species represents this 



genus in our fauna; 



*-5k / a second species is 



found in Florida. 



Pholcus phalang- 

 ioides (P. pha-lan-gi- 

 oi'des). — This species 

 is easily distinguished 

 from all other pholcids 

 found in the United 

 States by its larger 

 size and the elongated 

 form of the abdomen 

 (Fig. 320). The body 

 is one quarter of an 



inch long, and the longest legs two inches. The colour of the 



body is pale brown. 



328 



Fig. 320. PHOLCUS PHALANGIODES 



