Superfamily Argiopoidea 



there are dark spots at the sides of the abdomen and over the 

 spinnerets. 



The male is smaller than the female, is darker coloured and 

 has a smaller and less angular abdomen. It can be easily rec- 

 ognized by the remarkable form of the head (Fig. 328), which 



Fig. 328. ARGYRODES 



TRIGONUM, HEAD OF 



MALE (after Emerton) 



Fig. 329. EGG-SAC OF 

 ARGYRODES TRIGONUM 



Fig. 330. ARGYRODES NEPHIL.E, FEMALE, SIDE VIEW 



bears two projecting horns each tipped by a bunch of toothed 

 hairs; the median eyes are at the base of the hinder horn. 



The web is like that made by Tberidion; it is built among 

 the branches of shrubs or in the outer part of the web of some 

 large spider, with which the Argyrodes lives as a commensal, feed- 

 ing on the smaller insects caught in the web but neglected by its 

 host. The form and colour of the spider is protective, causing 



339 



