236 The Ohio Journal of Science [Vol. XX, No. 7, 



numbers does not permit giving very extensive data on food 

 relations. Because of the small size of this spider, it feeds on 

 small soft-bodied insects. It is easily frightened and permits 

 insects which struggle much in the web to extricate themselves. 



Epeira trivitatta Keyserling. 



Epeira trivitatta is one of the orb weavers which constructs 

 its web in low bushes, in swamp grass and in fence corners. 

 It is a small spider and is often found in the same places as 

 Epeira domicilioriim. Wild rose bushes and berry bushes are 

 favorite places for these spiders to build their webs. 



The color is usually brown, but varies a great deal and what 

 I considered several distinct species in food determinations 

 turned out to be but one after they were properly identified. 



The web is of the complete orb type and is vertical or nearly 

 so. It is a small web about twelve inches in diameter. When 

 the web is built in a bush, the spider makes a retreat by pulling 

 together several leaves, but when the web is made in grass the 

 spider rests on the center of the hub awaiting its prey. 



I counted thirteen of them on one rose bush {Rosa Carolina), 

 six feet by five feet. On another small bush I counted six. 

 They are not as abundant as might be supposed from these 

 figures, but one can almost always find one or two of them in a 

 clump of bushes. 



The insects used as food are wrapped up in a swathing 

 band. The soft parts are eaten and the chitinous parts cast 

 aside. The insect most often found in this spider's web was 

 Ceresa buhalus. Next to Ceresa bubalus, Lygus pratensis was 

 the most common one captured. Draeculacephala mollipes 

 and nymphs of grasshoppers came in next. The other insects 

 listed were only found occasionally. 



Epeira domiciliorum Hentz. 



Epeira domiciliorum and Epeira trivitatta are called varieties 

 of the same species by Emerton. Professor Comstock makes 

 two distinct species, naming one Neoscona arahesca and the 

 other Neoscona be?ijamini. 



The two spiders are found in the same situations, but 

 Epeira trivitatta is the more abundant. The web is of the 

 complete orb type and all of them observed made their webs in 

 small bushes. This spider usually commences to build its 



