Superfamily /.;-~iopoidea 



Theridion punctosparsum (T. punoto-spar'sum). — This 

 species measures one eighth inch in length. The cephalothorax 

 is dark yellow-brown, with a darker stripe in the middle and on 

 each side. The abdomen is dark gray with white spots. The 

 usual stripe is indicated by a large white spot in front and irreg- 

 ular lines of small white spots where the edge of the stripe is in 

 other species. The epigynum has a large oval opening outside 

 near the edge. (Fig. 348). 



Emerton states that it is common in the neighbourhood of 

 Salem and Boston, under stones, in stone walls and similar shady 

 places, with a small web. It has also been found south to Florida 

 and west to Colorado. 



Theridion lelotypum (T. ze-lot'y-piim). — The female measures 

 one sixth inch in length. The cephalothorax is orange with a 

 distinct dark stripe in the middle, and dark edges. There is a 

 light stripe along the middle of the abdomen above; from each side 



of this stripe there extend several 

 lateral stripes separating a series of 

 black spots (Fig. 349). The middle 

 of the abdomen is bright red. On 

 the ventral side, there is a black spot 

 in front of the spinnerets, and the 

 epigynum is brown. The epigynum 

 has a single opening outside some 

 distance from the edge. 

 Emerton, who first described the species from Maine, states 

 that the webs were large, supported between the branches of 

 spruce trees by threads running upward to the branches above and 

 furnishing lodging for numerous specimens of Argyrodes. The 

 spider had usually a tent covered with dry spruce leaves, under 

 which it hung with cocoons and young. 



Theridion studiosum (T. stu-di-o'sum). — This is an ex- 

 ceedingly common species in the South, and it extends northward 

 to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The cephalothorax is reddish 

 yellow, with a more or less distinct central band and lateral 

 margins brown. The abdomen is greenish brown or brownish 

 gray on the sides, with a dark median band above, bounded on 

 each side by a white wavy stripe (Fig. 350). On the ventral side 

 there is a dark longitudinal band, which extends the entire length 

 of the abdomen and behind surrounds the spinnerets, which are 



Fig. 348. EPIGYNUM OF 



THERIDION PUNCTOSPARSUM 



(after Emerton) 



350 



