Superfamily Argiopoidea 



Genus ARGYRODES (Ar-gy-ro'des) 



In this genus as in the preceding there is a transverse furrow 

 extending across the middle of the cephalothorax. Here too the 

 abdomen is of strange form, but it is not worm-like as in Ariamnes. 

 In our more common species the abdomen is greatly elevated 

 above the spinnerets, being triangular when seen from the side, 

 and in several of our species it is furnished with tubercles. 



These spiders spin but little silk. They are sometimes 

 found in small webs that are evidently their own; but more often 



Fig. 327. ARGYRODES TRIGONUM 



they are found in the webs of other and larger spiders, where 

 they nourish themselves with prey which on account of its small- 

 ness escapes their host. 



This is a large genus, eighty species or more have been de- 

 scribed; of these thirteen are found in the United States. The 

 two following are about the most common ones. 



Argyrodes irigonum (A. tri-go'num). — This is a small, yellow, 

 triangular species with a high, pointed abdomen. Large females 

 measure an eighth of an inch from the head to the spinnerets 

 and nearly as much from the spinnerets to the tip of the abdomen, 

 which is two-lobed (Fig. 327). In the female, that part of the 

 head bearing the eyes is slightly raised, and the eyes are far 

 removed from the front edge of the clypeus. The colour is light 

 yellow, sometimes with a metallic lustre. On the back of the 

 cephalothorax there are three light brown stripes, and sometimes 



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