Superfamily Argiopoidea 



Genus PAR DOS A (Par-do'sa) 



The labium is at least as broad as long and with the basal 

 excavations short, only very rarely more than one fourth of the 

 length of the labium (Fig. 728). The face is subquadrate, straight 

 on each side (Fig. 729). The anterior row of eyes is shorter 

 than the second and is procurved; the eyes of this row are small 

 and subequal or with the median a little larger. The anterior 

 tibiae are armed with three pairs of spines, of which the basal and 

 median pairs are much longer than the diameter of the segment. 



The Pardosas are spiders of small or of medium size and are 

 exceedingly active. They are vagabond spiders, constructing no 

 retreat, and using their silk only in the construction of the egg- 

 sac. They are often found in 

 large numbers in damp fields, a 

 few are semiaquatic like Pirata. 

 Almost all of the species live only 

 one year; the 

 young hibernate 

 andbecomeadult 

 in early spring. 

 I have found 



Fig. 728. LABIUM OF Fig. 729. 



PARDOSA ATRA FACE OFSPARDOSA 



Fig. 73°- 

 FEMALE WITH EGG-SAC 



them with their egg-sacs in May; they were lurking under stones 

 but were very active when disturbed. 



The egg-sac is depressed, lenticular in form; it is rarely 

 white, usually yellowish or greenish, sometimes of a deep blue; 

 there is a distinct seam along the edge between the two valves, 

 which is torn open when the spiderlings are ready to emerge. 

 The egg-sac is attached to the spinnerets (Fig. 730) but is held 

 well under the abdomen, more so than is represented in the figure, 

 which is from a photograph of a dead specimen. 



The genus Pardosa is a large one, nearly a score of species 



6^0 



