Superfamily Argiopoidea 



adult female (Fig. 509) measures about two fifths inch in length. 

 The cephalothorax is reddish brown with a dark stripe on each 

 side and a less distinct one in the middle. The abdomen is light 

 grayish brown, with a darker folium, which includes three or more 

 pairs of indistinctly outlined spots of the lighter shade. This 

 species closely resembles the following one; but can be easily 

 distinguished from it by the form of the scape of the epigynum, 

 which is finger-like (Fig. 513). 



The male (Fig. 514) closely resembles the female and is but 

 little smaller. The median apophysis of the bulb of the palpus 

 (Fig. 515) is more than twice 

 as long as wide and is split less 

 than halfway to its base; and the 

 terminal apophysis of the bulb 

 (Fig. 5 1 5) ends in a slender spear- 

 like tip. The tibia of the second 



Fig. 517- EPIGYNUM OF 

 ARANEA OCELLATA 



Fig. 518. PALPUS OF MALE 

 OF ARANEA OCELLATA 



legs is armed with two rows of short stout spines on the inside; 

 these spines differing more markedly from those on the other 

 legs than is the case in either of the other house Araneas. 



This is an exceedingly common species, which makes its web 

 about houses, but more frequently on bushes. The spider is 

 usually found in a retreat near the web. Figure 516 is of a web 

 of this species; the spider that made this web had a retreat at 

 the base of the teazle head at the left. Figure 186, p. 194, and 

 Fig. 194, p. 205, represent other webs of this species. 



This species is the Epeira sirix of Hentz and the Epeira 

 foliata of Koch. 



The popular name doubtless refers to the conspicuous folium. 



Aranea ocellata (A. o-cel-la'ta).— This species resembles 



489 



