Superfamily Argiopoidea 



distance behind the spinnerets. The second row of eyes is nearly 

 straight; the lateral eyes are nearly equal in size and those on 

 each side are close together; the posterior median eyes are near 

 together; the anterior median eyes are widely separated, making 

 the median ocular area twice as wide in front as behind. The 

 patella of the pedipalp of the male is armed with two spines at 

 its apex. 



Three species occur in the United States. 

 Larinia directa (L. di-rec'ta). — This is a common species in 

 the South, where it makes an oblique web in grass or on other 



herbaceous plants. The adult male 

 measures one fifth inch in length; 

 the adult female, two fifths inch; 

 and in each sex the body is only 

 about one fourth as wide as long. 

 The cephalothorax is yellowish with 

 a narrow, dark, marginal line and 

 also a median, longitudinal line. 

 The abdomen varies greatly in 

 colour and markings (Fig. 545); 

 there is usually a yellowish median 

 stripe above, and often a darker 

 stripe on each side of this. There 

 is also, usually, a series of six pairs 

 of black spots extending the whole 

 length of the abdomen. The spots 

 vary greatly in size in different in- 

 dividuals; and sometimes the spots 

 of the first and third pairs are much 

 larger than the others. The ster- 

 num is yellow. On the under side 

 of the abdomen there are two parallel dark stripes, which unite 

 just before the spinnerets. The metatarsus of the first legs is 

 longer than the tibia and twice as long as the width of the 

 body. 



Larinia borealis (L. bo-re-a'lis). — This species occurs in the 

 North; but is not common. It was described by Banks from 

 specimens taken in the State of Washington, and in New Hamp- 

 shire. It is not as slender as L. directa, the abdomen being only 

 about twice as long as wide. It differs also in that the metatarsus 



Fig. S4S. LARINIA DIRECTA 



508 



