Superfamily Argiopoidea 



when the immature spider is considered, the three stripes on the 

 caudal half of the abdomen being well-marked; but it is not a 

 fortunate designation, for the bands of the adult are many more 

 than three. The species was named fasciata by Hentz and trans- 

 versa by Emerton. Either of these names would be more appro- 

 priate, but as trijasciata is the older name it must be used. 



Fig. ^2. EGG-SAC OF METARGIOPE TRIFASCIATA 



This is a widely distributed species both in the Old World 

 and in the New; in this hemisphere it extends from the United 

 States to Chili. 



The web of the banded Argiope closely resembles that of 

 the preceding species described above. A very perfect specimen 

 that was made in our insectary is represented by the frontispiece. 

 This figure is greatly reduced; the cefitre of this web is shown 

 natural size at page 198. Sometimes the barrier web of this 

 species is sheet-like, concave, and almost as large as the orb. 



There are great variations in the hub of the orb of this 



441 



