Superfamily Argiopoidea 



The grass-spider, Agelena ncevia (A. nae'vi-a). — There is a 

 wide range in the variation of the size of this spider; adult males 

 occur that are less than one third inch in length while the full- 

 grown female may be three fourths of an inch or more in length. 

 There is also great variation in the general colour of the body, 

 ranging from light yellow with pale gray markings to dark reddish 

 brown, with black and gray spots. Figure 664 represents a 

 light-coloured, well-marked individual. There are two wide 

 longitudinal dark stripes extending the whole length of the 



cephalothorax; there is 

 a light longitudinal me- 

 dian band extending the 

 length of the abdomen 

 and bordered on each side 

 with a dark band having 

 a light central stripe, 

 which is broken into a 

 series of spots on the hind 

 half of the abdomen. 

 *r FfBh ' ' his species is either 



y j*' r \ a variable one in the form 



of the palpi of the males 

 and in the form of the 

 epigynum of the females 

 or more than one species 

 have been confused under 

 this name. The most 

 striking variations in the 

 palpi of the males are 

 in the length of the em- 

 bolus and the form of the tip of it. Figures 665 and 666 

 illustrate two types of palpi, which differ greatly in these 

 respects. 



The grass-spider is so-called because its webs are the most 

 common webs found on grass; it is an abundant species throughout 

 the United States, probably the most abundant species in our 

 fauna. Even the most careful observers seldom realize what 

 an immense number of webs of this spider are spun upon the grass 

 in the fields. But occasionally they are made visible in the early 

 morning by the dew which has condensed UDon them. At such 



586 



Fig. 664. AGELENA N.EVIA, FEMALE 



