Superfamily Argiopoidea 



The abdomen is marked by irregular, narrow, yellow lines 

 (Fig. 344). 



The spider makes a large irregular web, like that of the 

 domestic-spider. These webs occur both in houses and on bushes 

 in the field. In the field, there is usually a retreat in the centre 

 of the web, made of one or more dried leaves. 



Theridion rupicola (T. ru-pic'o-la). — This species closely 

 resembles the well-marked individuals of Theridion tepidariorum, 

 but is much smaller, the females measuring from one tenth to 

 one eighth inch in length and the males about one twelfth inch. 

 It is easily distinguished from T. tepidariorum by the fact that 

 the abdomen as seen from above ends in a pointed hump, which 

 is really about midway between the base of the abdomen and the 

 spinnerets (Fig. 345). 



It lives under stones and in the midst of rubbish. Emerton 

 states that its web often contains grains of sand which look as 

 if placed there by the spider. 1 found an individual in August 

 which had a loose web 

 built between two pieces 

 of timber, which were 

 about three inches apart. 



Fig. 344. THERIDION FORDUM 



Fig. 345. THERIDION RUPICOLA 



In the centre of the web there was a retreat one half inch long 

 made of bits of wood, and in the form of an inverted cup. The 

 spider was in the open mouth of the retreat, and within the 

 retreat there was an egg-sac. 



Theridion frondeum (T. fron'de-um). — One of the more 

 common of the species of Theridion found in the fields is this little 

 white and black spider, which frequently attracts attention on 

 account of its conspicuous colours (Fig. 346). It is exceedingly 

 variable in its markings, so that a dozen individuals may appear 

 to represent half as many species. The general colour is white 



347 



