Superfamily Argiopoidea 



builds a turret around its entrance; but it is also often found 

 running about on the ground or lurking under stones. 



Lycosa erratica (L. er-rat'i-ca). — The colour of the body 

 varies from light gray to almost black. The cephalothorax is 

 marked with a reddish yellow or reddish brown median band, which 

 is narrowest on the thorax and wider on the head, becoming as wide 

 as the third row of eyes; between the eyes it is reduced to a narrow 

 stripe. There is also a light band on each lateral margin of the 

 cephalothorax; this band is more or less split by a dark line. The 

 abdomen is marked with a longitudinal pale band, which tapers 

 to a point at the spinnerets and encloses a distinct lanceolate 

 stripe in the basal half or two thirds of its length; behind the 

 lanceolate mark there may be several dark transverse lines. The 

 venter is whitish or light yellow and usually marked in specimens 

 from the eastern United States with two black stripes which meet 

 at the spinnerets making a U-shaped figure; in specimens from 

 the Pacific Coast this U-shaped figure is usually wanting in adults. 

 The form of the epigynum is shown in Fig. 720, e. The length 

 of the body varies from two fifths to one half inch. 



This is a common and very widely distributed spider. It is 

 a vagabond species, which is found running in grass 6f hiding 

 under stones; so far as is known it makes no burrow. It was 

 described by Hentz under the name adopted here; it was 

 later described by Emerton under the name of Lycosa -communis; 

 and it has been described under several other names by other 

 authors. 



Lycosa scutulata (L. scu-tu-la'ta). — The cephalothorax is 

 dark gray with three light longitudinal stripes extending its whole 

 length, and a narrow light line on each lateral margin of the 

 thorax (Fig. 723). The abdomen is marked with a broad dark 

 median band, which is notched on each side in front of the middle 

 of the abdomen, and which encloses several pairs of light spots on 

 the hinder part of the abdomen. At the sides of the median band 

 are narrow light bands, and beyond these fine light and dark 

 oblique lines. The male measures about one half inch in length; 

 the female, four fifths inch or more. 



This large species is common and widely distributed; so far 

 as is recorded it has been observed only as a wanderinu spider. 



Lycosa punctulata (L. punc-tu-la'ta). — The cephalothorax 

 is light brown, with each side of the middle a blackish brown 



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