Superfamily Argiopoidea 



nized by the form of its web, wtiich is described below. The 

 adult female varies from one fourth to two fifths inch in length. 

 The carapace is dark brown with the ocular area yellow; the 

 sternum is brown with a central yellow band; the legs are dull yel- 

 low banded with brown; the abdomen bears a well-marked folium, 

 in which there is a central band and two pairs of spots extending 

 laterally from this band (Fig. 477); the sides of the abdomen are 

 mottled with rich reddish brown. 



The male measures one sixth inch in length; it resembles 

 the female, but has longer legs. 



The web of this species is a composite one, consisting of an 

 incomplete orb and an irregular net (Fig. 478). The irregular net 

 part of the web resembles the webs 

 of some theridiid spiders and 

 like them is a more or less per- 

 manent structure. The orb is 

 built in front of and usually slight- 

 ly below the irregular net. It 

 varies in form from a nearly com- 

 plete orb in which the viscid line 

 forms many complete spiral turns 

 to an incomplete one in which no 

 turn of the viscid thread passes 

 entirely around the web. On one 

 occasion 1 saw an orb of this 

 species that was of the zilla type, 

 but after this was destroyed the 

 individual that made it made 

 a complete orb. The hub of the orb is of the meshed type, and 

 from it there extend several traplines to a retreat. This is 

 usually situated in the midst of the irregular net, and ordinarily 

 consists of a bunch of dry leaves enclosing a space lined with silk. 

 I have observed the webs of the young labyrinth spiders in June; 

 They were mostly built among dead branches and the retreat 

 was made entirely of silk; it was usually near a branch, but some- 

 times it was in the midst of the labyrinth. A little later in the 

 season, early in July, the spiders made their tents near the centre 

 of the labyrinth. 



! he spiders mature early in the autumn; the males; are then 

 to be found in the webs of the females. A little later the females 



Fig. 477 METEPEIRA 

 LABYRINTHEA, FEMALE 



463 



