Superfamily Argiopoidea 



species. In some it is merely sheeted ; in others there is a stabil- 

 imentum. The stabilimentum is sometimes a narrow wavy band 



(Fig. 450) and sometimes 

 a broad sheet of lace 

 (Fig. 451). lhavefound 

 the more elaborate form 

 only in the webs of im- 

 mature individuals. 



This spider reaches 

 maturity somewhat later 

 in the season than does 

 the orange Argiope, and 

 it is sometimes quite late 

 in the autumn before the 

 egg-sac is made. 



The egg-sac is of 

 very characteristic form, 

 not to be mistaken for 



Fig. 453. METARGIOPE TRIFASCIATA 

 MAKING HER EGG-SAC 



any other in our fauna. It is cup-shaped 

 with a flat top (Fig. 452); and is fastened 

 among the branches of some low shrub or 

 between the leaves of herbs. In building 

 the egg-sac the spider makes the flat side 

 first, and then attaches the mass of eggs 

 to it, and finally covers the mass of eggs 

 with the cup-shaped portion. Figure 453 

 represents a spider making its egg-sac in 

 one of our breeding cages. 



Genus ARGIOPE (Ar-gi'o-pe) 



The members of this genus 



can 



be 



distinguished from all other members of 

 this subfamily occurring in our fauna by 

 the form of the abdomen, the margin of 

 which is lobate. 



Of the genus Argiope as now re- 

 stricted only a single species occurs within 



Fig. 454. ARGIOPE 



ARGEXTATA (after F. O. 



Pickard-Cambridge, ) 



A A O 



